Limited rock salt supply raises safety concerns for Syracuse residents
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — It was a typical winter morning for Syracuse University student Joe Zhao — until his commute to the Daily Orange took an unexpected turn.
“I was on my bike and then got hit by a car. Then I got on the SU ambulance and they took me to the Upstate University Hospital. I stayed in the emergency room for a night and then they did the surgery the day after that,” Zhao said.
Zhao was left with several broken bones, including a fractured femur, and a concussion. He now has to use a crutch to get around. But with icy sidewalks made worse by a rock salt shortage, every step has become a challenge.
“Oh yeah, definitely, especially those kind of snowing and raining days, and because of the cold weather, sometimes there will be, like, ice on the road. It’s really hard to, like, get around, especially on the ice. But I got this—my crutch, making my life a little bit easier,” Zhao said.
Joe Zhao standing with his crutch © 2025 Maria Wainscott
The rock salt shortage has hit Syracuse hard this winter, making road and sidewalk maintenance more difficult than usual. According to American Rock Salt, the nation’s largest salt producer, it has shipped over 2.1 million tons of salt this winter alone, surpassing last year’s total of 1.8. Still, demand is high, and supply is limited.
“American Rock Salt has been working diligently to meet the demand from local government customers across New York State for salt supply,” the company said in a statement.
The Syracuse Department of Public Works is feeling the strain. Public Information Officer for Infrastructure Sol Muñoz explained how the department is handling the shortage.
“We hope that the delays will slow down and that we will be able to get what we are ordering every time, but we will manage with what we have to do, because we have to ensure that our residents can get to work and school safely,” Muñoz said.
A Syracuse salt truck dusted with snow at the DPW warehouse © 2025 Maria Wainscott
Crews have been working long hours to keep up with the snow, often pulling 12-hour shifts when major storms hit.
“They work usually when it’s a bigger snowstorm, and we know that we’re about to get hit with lake effect snow or things like that. They work seven to seven, so they will work 12-hour shifts that they have to, but they know what they’re signing up for,” Muñoz added.
To make the most of its resources, the Department of Public Works is prioritizing high-traffic areas and adjusting plow schedules based on weather conditions.
“We’re really taking a look at the weather, making sure that we’re using the right treatments for the type of storm that we’re getting,” Muñoz said.
The City of Syracuse’s salt barn © 2025 Maria Wainscott
Residents are also being asked to do their part.
“I think the most important things for residents to do is make sure their sidewalks are getting shoveled. Although we have a supplemental sidewalk snow removal program, it’s important that it doesn’t absolve property owners from clearing their sidewalks. Make sure you’re parking legally so that the plows can get through,” Muñoz said.
For residents, like Zhao, with disabilities or injuries, the shortage has made an already difficult winter even harder. Muñoz also recommended residents use the City Snow Plow Map and the Sidewalk Snow Plow Map to stay informed about which areas have been cleared and plan safer routes. According to city officials, efforts to manage the salt supply will continue throughout the remainder of the winter season.
