Here’s how Barrie is prioritizing winter road operations amid province-wide salt shortage

A salt truck gets filled with salt in Barrie, Ont., on Thurs., Dec 11, 2025.

The City of Barrie says it is feeling the pinch after a province-wide salt shortage has prompted crews to carefully prioritize the materials they have on hand while continuing to maintain road safety.

Salt Optimization Strategy

The city says it is following its Salt Optimization Strategy and Winter Operations Plan, which emphasizes plowing to remove snow and ice before applying salt.

“During the shortage, crews assess road conditions, weather forecasts, and available supplies to determine the most appropriate treatment,” says staff.

• Snow removal contractors face doubling costs amid salt shortage

Priority and secondary roads may receive salt or sand-salt mixtures depending on conditions, while residential streets will continue to be serviced using a sand-salt blend to improve traction.

City officials say this approach helps stretch limited supplies while still addressing safety concerns.

Nearly $2 million annually on road salt

In an interview with CTV News earlier this month, city officials confirmed they have already dipped into roughly 10,000 tonnes of salt this season. That follows a historic winter last year, when salt usage climbed to roughly 30,000 tonnes (the highest level the city has seen.)

“We were up to about 30,000 tons, and that’s probably about the most we’ve ever used,” said Dave Friary, Barrie’s director of operations in an interview.

While the city would not disclose the exact cost per tonne, officials confirmed Barrie spends between $1 million and $2 million annually on road salt. The city says it is able to reduce costs by purchasing large quantities through a fixed annual contract.