Hamilton hit with road salt shortage

Hamilton is running out of road salt.

City officials say they’ve used up all but two weeks worth of their supply. And the city’s supplier is also running low, meaning Hamilton can’t order any more.

Officials are scrambling to find an emergency source before their depleted store runs out completely. They’ve already burned through 50 per cent more than they use in an average winter — 90,000 tonnes. If they can’t order more, they’ll start using the remaining supply even more sparingly.

Escarpment accesses and major roads will get the bulk of it. City streets will get mainly sand, and just a bit of salt, and small side roads may not get salt at all.

The city plans to up plowing efforts to compensate, but less salt means slippery roads. They’re asking drivers to keep that in mind, and slow down.