Many towns and cities are running out of road salt and warning drivers that roads may be slippery in the coming days.
A series of winter storms since late November has depleted salt supplies nationwide and outpaced salt companies’ ability to replenish supplies.
Some Chittenden County towns are using salt only on busy roads, dangerous intersections and icy hills.
South Burlington Public Works Director Bruce Hoar says the community has only enough salt to get through the latest storm. He says people will have to drive according to the conditions.
Several towns are mixing sand with the salt to stretch supplies.
The Vermont Agency of Transportation is in better shape. Agency spokesman John Zicconi says in general, state salt supplies are about half full and says he doesn’t anticipate any reductions in the amount of salt applied to the state’s highways this winter.