County deals with salt shortage

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By Cecilia Nasmith

Northumberland County has shared details on how it is actively managing winter road maintenance amid a province-wide salt shortage and a winter fraught with an early start, frequent snow events, prolonged periods of extreme cold and nearly twice as many winter-weather events as this time last year.

“While the county plans well in advance for winter conditions – including the bulk purchase of both treated and regular road salt prior to the start of the season, with contracted restock throughout – the high number of weather events has resulted in supplies being used more quickly than anticipated,” the announcement said.

Director of Public Works Denise Marshall explained that treated salt is highly effective in colder temperatures and allows crews to use less material to achieve better results. But the high number of winter-weather events means that the treated-salt supply has been used more quickly than anticipated.

“We continue to receive salt, but on-going supply uncertainty across the province means we need to carefully manage how and when materials are applied,” Marshall said.

“With road safety as our utmost priority, we're being very strategic about how and when materials are applied, based on current road and weather conditions.”

To manage available supply responsibly while continuing to provide service, the county is implementing mitigation measures while actively working to find additional alternative suppliers across the province and beyond. Such measures include adjusted application rates and use of sand-salt mixtures instead of straight salt (sand helps to improve traction). Potential reductions in snow plowing service levels may be considered as a last resort, should the shortage continue and the winter conditions persist over the coming weeks.

The county continuously monitors weather forecasts and road conditions and, in advance of forecasted snowfall events, applies anti-icing liquids. As well, crews actively plow, sand and salt throughout storm events.

Northumberland County maintains some 900 km. of roadway with a fleet of 27 pieces of winter maintenance equipment. Snow-clearing timelines are based on snowfall depth and road classification.

“Northumberland County takes pride in delivering a very high level of service for winter maintenance,” Marshall stated.

“We are doing everything we can to maintain safe roads. We also look to community members to share in this responsibility. Please, if you're driving, slow down, drive to conditions, be patient and give snowplows plenty of room to do their work.”

As the county's Procurement and Public Works teams continue to work closely with suppliers across Ontario and beyond to secure additional materials as they become available, residents are encouraged to stay informed of weather and road conditions, plan ahead for winter travel by carrying an emergency kit, and exercise caution during winter-weather events.

For more information on Northumberland County's snow-plowing service-level standards (including an infographic explaining the maintenance of county roads during a snowfall), visit Northumberland.ca/Snow