City of Niagara Falls Adjusts Winter Maintenance Operations Due to Province-Wide Salt Shortage

NIAGARA FALLS, ON — The City of Niagara Falls is advising residents that a province-wide road salt shortage is affecting winter maintenance operations across Ontario and parts of the United States, including local municipalities.

The City has been informed that it will not receive its full annual supply of salt because of higher demand, frequent early winter storms, and supply and transportation issues affecting suppliers across North America. While the City continues to pursue all commercially reasonable remedies with material suppliers to obtain additional salt when it becomes available, as an immediate precaution, the City has implemented a temporary mitigation strategy.

What the City Is Doing

• The City still has enough salt to keep operations going by mixing it with sand. This is a common method that helps with both traction and de-icing.
• This sand and salt mix, which is usually used on residential streets, will now be spread more widely on roads and sidewalks all over the city.
• Crews may need to plow more frequently to manage snow accumulation that would normally melt with straight salt applications.
• Niagara municipalities, along with Niagara Region and the Niagara Parks Commission, are working together to keep roads safe throughout the region. 

What Residents Should Know 

• Roads and sidewalks will still be maintained to keep everyone safe.
• Increased sand use may delay spring street sweeping once winter conditions subside.
• Residents are encouraged to drive according to conditions, allow extra stopping distance, and use caution on sidewalks and roadways. 

The City thanks residents for their patience and cooperation as crews adapt to this unusual supply challenge and continue to prioritize safety. Updates will be shared as they become available, with the latest information posted at niagarafalls.ca. 

For more information, please contact:

Erik Nickel
General Manager of Municipal Works 
City of Niagara Falls 
enickel@niagarafalls.ca