I’m not talking about the frigid cold or heavy snow. I’m talking about rough travelling conditions due to a shortage of road salt.
The Appleton Post-Crescent reports, “Dave Vieth, director of the state's bureau of highway operations, said the state purchased an amount about 40,000 tons short of what it requested during an early-year buy. It plans to increase the use of additives to stretch supplies and truck salt from different parts of the state as necessary.”
Why the shortage? In a nutshell, demand is high, supplies are down, and costs are up. The Post- Crescent reports, “Road salt prices now range as high as $250 per ton in the upper Midwest, and some would-be buyers are finding it hard to come by at any price.” It could have been worse, but Wisconsin, unlike some other states, put in bids for road salt early.
One state official told road maintenance supervisors to use only enough salt to “keep the snow plowable,” as well as anti-icing and de-icing additives.
Heavy snowfall last winter resulted in the United States dumping a near-record 20.3 million tons of salt.
Here are more details from the Appleton Post-Crescent and USA Today.
