As Towns Cope With Series of Storms Rock Salt Running Low

Supplies of roadway rock salt are down to critical lows in communities across Essex County as officials struggle to cope with a succession of winter storms that have pounded the area since late December.

“We are six or seven times ahead of where we would normally be at this point,” Belleville’s township manager, Victor Canning, said of rock salt consumption this winter. "I’ve spent over $100,000 on rock salt already.”

Supplies were completely depleted earlier this week as yet another storm, this one bringing freezing rain and ice, was about to hit the area. Belleville, which normally purchases its salt through a cooperative of Essex communities at a rate of $54.50 a ton, was forced to turn to another supplier -- at a much higher price of $85 a ton.

“We can’t compromise public safety,” Canning said, adding that police are notifying the township when hilly roads become slick with ice.

However,  Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr., said help may be on the way, "We're getting more and more salt in each and every day, we got another delivery yesterday- by the end of the week our dome should be full.

"We asked for 1,800 tons and what happens is one day they give us 200, one day they give us 700 because they have to provide it throughout the state. Hopefully this weather will stop. Our roads are in very good shape- I think our people did a great job on our county roads."

Even when there isn’t any fresh precipitation, however, roads can still become treacherous, Canning said. Warm daytime temperatures melt some snow, which freezes after nightfall, sending salt trucks back on the roads.

Earlier today, 100 tons of salt were delivered to Belleville’s DPW yard ahead of yet another storm expected to strike this weekend. This is far less than the 250 tons the township usually needs to keep its more than 60 miles of roads clear, Canning said.

“I’ve told them to use it sparingly,” Canning said, adding that the township has another 400 tons on back-order.

With the dramatically increased demand, however, it’s difficult to say when that order will arrive. Wait times at salt yards are up to four hours. Canning also said that the state of New Jersey, the biggest customer, is getting priority over local governments. The state is responsible for clearing  major thoroughfares like Rt. 21, the Garden State Parkway and Washington Avenue.

The near record-breaking winter is taking its toll in other ways. DPW workers are scrambling to keep equipment in working order.

Massive snow piles, meanwhile, have made travel on local roads hazardous, especially in Belleville, which permits overnight street parking, making it difficult for workers to plow “curb to curb”. Many two-way streets have effectively been reduced to one lane because the snow is accumulating faster than it’s melting.

Nutley and other area communities this week received permission from the state Department of Environmental Protection to dump snow in the Passaic River, which is normally prohibited. The DEP is allowing communities to do this on a “case by case” basis, Canning said, following snow events.

Canning also said he intends to ask for permission if the need arises.