Too Much Snow, Not Enough Salt

Just to give you a little glimpse of the winter we've been enduring, here are some stats from last winter vs. this winter:

2006-2007 season
Winter events: 14
Plowing: 5
Snowfall: 41 inches
Tons of salt applied: 13,600

2007-2008 season, so far
Winter events: 20
Plowing: 9
Snowfall: 48 inches
Tons of salt applied: 17,500

Did you catch that nearly FIFTY inches of snow have fallen since December 1, 2007? Not only has this lead to many shoveling jobs for the Harris', but it looks like the city is running low on salt. And it's only mid-February. This record snowfall could continue for another month.

Here's a glimpse of the story:
Salt shortages are impeding road crews throughout Illinois as they battle this winter's deluge of snow and ice. An order placed back in January still hasn't come in for Naperville, prompting the Public Works Department to conserve the 1,000 tons of salt remaining in its salt domes.

For the past several storms, cul-de-sacs have not been salted unless absolutely necessary. The city also is waiting to salt residential side streets until after they are plowed and is reducing the amount of salt used on collector streets. (This explains all the snow in MY cul-de-sac.)

"We anticipated we would have in an average winter, and this has by far exceeded that," said Dave Van Vooren, director of Public Works.

Crews will have to compensate for less salt by spending more time plowing snow. Arterial roadways, bridges, sharp curves and steep inclines will still be given typical amounts of salt, according to a city memorandum.

Salt backupVan Vooren said he isn't sure when Naperville's next load of salt will arrive, but the city says a shipment is scheduled for Monday or Tuesday - depending on the weather. Icy rivers have made it difficult for suppliers to transport salt-laden barges, he said.

"What we're hearing is that the suppliers have been unable to get salt delivered to their depot for distribution, and the rivers are too ice-logged for them to get barges through," Van Vooren said.

DuPage County crews also have used up the season's supply of salt, equaling 25,000 tons and costing almost $1 million. On Tuesday, the county board approved a second contract to purchase up to another 12,000 tons if needed.

About 1,300 tons of salt were used during the snowstorms Monday and Tuesday alone, said John Kos, the county's director of transportation and operations.

With about 950 lane miles of pavement to keep clear during often unpredictable winter weather, Kos said he is unsure how much more salt the county will need before spring arrives.


I did read some good news in a related article, though. The Public Works department is on the hook for the damage done to our mailbox via the snowplow. Only catch? We will have to wait until spring to dig a new hole for the post. So come MAY, we might just have a brand new mailbox!