Ice control for parking lots

We are located in a rural area that often gets ice storms, significant amounts of snow and temperatures consistently below 0 for many months. Our office and production plant are two separate buildings so people are often walking between the two. Our parking areas are all gravel. We use equipment to plow the snow but it often leaves it very icy. We can spread salt but it doesn't help when we receive snow so often. We have also tried spreading gravel after plowing, but the main gravel pile freezes into one solid chunk. We need to find another solution for this winter. ANY and all ideas you can share would be helpful! Thank you! 

Hi MrAG, welcome to the forum! Have you considered slip resistant safety shoes/boots for your workers? 

Honestly, that needs to be paved.   An expensive answer I doubt you want, lol, but if you really want to control ice, it's that, then plow, and lots of salt.   It's the same where I am, and that's really all you can do.  You can do the beet juice thing if you can source it, but it works about the same as salt ( I think they mix it with a salt brine anyways...) so there's no easy answer...

As far as going between buildings, how far apart are they?   Again, I see no easy answer other than lots of shoveling and salt....no cheap answer anyway.   You could build a tunnel between them, like above ground, if they're close.   If not, man, tough one.....

Agree with MDale

What about a series of the hoop shaped "garages" built end to end?

https://www.amazon.c...Portable Garage

The beet juice brine works, but needs repeated applications

SAND SAND SAND   a fine layer mixed with salt is what we use in Ontario for sidewalks

Unfortunately I agree with the expensive solutions, pave it or build a walkway/tunnel/skyway between the two.

The only kind-of(?) less expensive answer is to build an entryway with a bootwash and grated floor for the entrance of the building -- similar to what would be expected for entering the production area and service it frequently.

Our break rooms are the first area inside the team member entrances, so these just get some extra mopping in the winter, but they're coming in off a paved lot and sidewalk.

Our local highway department spreads sand.  To combat it freezing, they build a large dome to store it in so it doesn't freeze.