UXBRIDGE -- Despite a province-wide salt shortage prompted by harsher than average weather conditions this year, Uxbridge's regional councillor said the Township will make do through the season.
Durham's drivers will have to be a bit more careful as the Region starts applying a salt-sand mixture in areas that were previously salted.
North Durham already gets a coat of sand/salt mix on its roads. Regional Councillor Howie Herrema said the salt shortage is being felt here, but the Township is compensating by using more calcium chloride, which he said is similar to salt (sodium chloride) in cost and effectiveness, in the sand/salt mix. "We're going to be OK," said Coun. Herrema. Uxbridge's assistant to the works director, Darrel Horne, previously noted only 18 per cent of the mix in Uxbridge plows is salt.
But the Region will have to ration what salt it has available.
"The lakeshore communities are going to notice it now because we generally don't use sand down there," said Susan Siopis, director of field and transportation services for the Region.
Drivers may have to alter their habits as some areas will see hard-packed road surfaces, something generally seen in the northern parts of Durham, where a sand-salt mix is already used. Ms. Siopis said the sand content in those areas will increase.
"It's not like salt, sand doesn't melt anything. It gives you grip."
The Region sent out a public service announcement on the issue Wednesday and Ms. Siopis said she expects the supply of salt will be limited for the rest of the winter.
"Now the only way we can get salt is directly from the mines; there's nothing sitting in the docks where we usually get it from," she said. "Last week we ordered 30 loads, we got three and that's happening to everyone."
Ms. Siopis said the Region will continue to prioritize areas such as intersections, bridges and hills when salting.
--- with files from Jeff Hayward
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