Winter weather takes toll on salt supplies in Connecticut

Lots of people’s patience with winter is nearly out, and some winter supplies are running low, too.

Now, contractors are preparing with more winter weather on the way.

This tough winter is taking a toll on crews and equipment at CRS Landscape & Excavation in Avon.

“It’s been a tough year. We’ve had a few years in a row that weren’t so bad. So we’re really kind of making up for the low years,” owner Jeremy Vearil said.

It’s also been hard to keep salt in stock amid on-and-off shortages in the state.

“We were lucky enough to get another load this morning. So it’ll carry us through hopefully another storm and see what happens next week,” Vearil said.

Keeping the trucks full of salt is one thing, as some contractors run out or have to make long drives to find it.

Paying for it is another issue.

“Luckily, I have some good providers. So we’ve been consistently been able to kind of, you know, keep the price. But there’s been a few scenarios we’ve had to buy a couple loads at an elevated price but not passing that on right now,” Vearil said.

For the average family looking for a bag of ice melt, it’s a little easier.

“We’ve got plenty of ice melt even if we have to store some when it’s 70 degrees next week,” said Grant Corbetter of Larsen Ace Hardware.

You’ll still find palettes of ice melt among the spring supplies at Larsen Ace Hardware in Canton.

“It was our goal at the store this year to never run out. Last year, I don’t know if you remember, there was a huge ice storm that no one could get anywhere,” Corbett said.

The state DOT says its salt supply is in good shape.

And crews will be out across the state as wintry weather moves in.

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