Local governments brace for a 70 percent price hike for road salt

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The price of driving on clear roads could get a lot higher this winter.

Local officials in northeast Wisconsin say they’re facing a 70 percent increase in the cost of road salt.

They say the price is now almost $57 a ton, up from just more than $33 last year.

Most communities get their salt from the state transportation department. And Lisa Meinholz says her agency is now getting new bids.

She says salt vendors have been blaming the high price hike on fuel prices which were at record highs a year ago, and supply and demand.

Much of Wisconsin has had record snowfalls the past two winters. And that forced some communities to cut back where they could.

Ashwaubenon street manager Keith Watermolen said his crews did not use as much salt on secondary roads and residents were not happy once they noticed the difference.

Some places try to stretch out their salt by using a waste product from beet juice. But Watermolen says it can be very rough on the roads.

Some officials are looking at cutting other services to swallow the price hike for salt.

Brown County highway director Brian Lamers says he can’t tell people that salt is too expensive when there’s an ice storm.

Tags: salt prices, wisconsin, roads