By BoroPark24 Staff

As this winter’s cold begins to ease, much of what kept local roads and sidewalks safe came from far outside the area. Large amounts of road salt are shipped in by sea and move through the Port of New York and New Jersey before being delivered to nearby cities and towns.

Bulk cargo ships bring in hundreds of thousands of tons at a time, much of it from South America, which is faster and more efficient than moving the same volume by truck. At the port, cranes unload the salt into dockside hoppers, where trucks pick it up and transport it to storage sites and distribution yards.

As winter storms approach, trucks are loaded around the clock, spreading salt on highways, local streets, bridges, and pedestrian areas. During major snow or ice events, thousands of truckloads may be deployed in a single day to keep roadways passable and reduce accidents.

Transportation and sanitation departments carefully monitor forecasts and road temperatures to determine how much salt to apply, balancing safety with efficiency and environmental considerations. Timing is critical, crews often begin treating roads before snowfall begins to prevent ice from bonding to the pavement.

While it may appear routine, the operation behind winter road treatment is a massive logistical effort that begins months before the first snowflake falls. From overseas mines to port terminals and local depots, the coordinated supply chain ensures that when winter weather strikes, communities are prepared and roads remain safe for drivers and pedestrians alike.