Cornwall mixes salt with sand as regional shortage hits ahead of major snowstorm
In the Town of Cornwall, highway officials say they received less than half of the road salt they ordered for the storm. According to the town, the highway department took delivery of just 120 tons of salt out of the 360 tons it requested.
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A regional salt shortage is forcing highway departments across the Hudson Valley to adjust as a major winter storm with significant snowfall is expected to move through the area this weekend.
In the Town of Cornwall, highway officials say they received less than half of the road salt they ordered for the storm. According to the town, the highway department took delivery of just 120 tons of salt out of the 360 tons it requested.
To stretch that limited supply, crews are now mixing salt with sand — a step the town does not typically take.
“We are bringing in sand — something we don’t normally do here — but we are bringing in sand to stretch our supply just to make sure we have enough material to get through,” said Cornwall Highway Superintendent Tom Gschwind.
With snow expected to fall through the weekend, officials say plow trucks are expected to be out all day Sunday and into Monday as conditions evolve and cleanup continues.
The Cornwall Highway Department is responsible for maintaining about 60 miles of town roads, along with 13 miles of county roads under contract. Crews also service the downtown business district and clear roughly nine miles of sidewalks.
Town Supervisor Josh Wojehowski says he stopped by the highway garage as crews made their final preparations ahead of the storm.
“I stopped by the Cornwall Highway Department today as they make their final preparations for this major snowstorm — filling plow trucks with salt, fueling up, and checking every piece of equipment,” Wojehowski said. “You can feel the energy in the building. Our Highway employees are truly among the best in Orange County and they’re ready to get to work for our community.”
Wojehowski is urging residents to stay off the roads during the height of the storm to allow crews and first responders to do their jobs safely.
“The best thing residents can do is stay off the roads during the height of the storm,” Wojehowski said. “Don’t become part of the emergency and don’t put our first responders at risk. Let these professionals do their jobs and keep everyone safe.”
