(Credit: Collegeville Borough/Facebook)
A regional road salt shortage is forcing Collegeville Borough to significantly alter how it treats roads during the multi-day winter storm expected to impact the Perkiomen Valley and surrounding areas this weekend.
In an alert sent to residents Friday, the borough said it has a very limited salt supply due to tight availability across Montgomery County and beyond, despite awaiting additional deliveries. As a result, Collegeville will prioritize salting intersections and hills during the storm, with full roadway salting delayed until after snowfall ends.
“We cannot salt all roads as we normally do,” the borough said, urging residents to stay off the roads when possible and to use extreme caution if travel is unavoidable.
Collegeville officials said the shortage is tied to a broader regional supply crunch affecting municipalities across the region, as winter storms earlier in the season rapidly depleted stockpiles and suppliers struggle to keep pace with demand. Similar conditions have been reported throughout southeastern Pennsylvania and the Northeast, according to state and regional officials.
A snow emergency has been declared in Collegeville, prohibiting parking on snow emergency routes. Residents were also asked to move vehicles off streets to allow plows to operate safely, limit travel due to dangerous snow-and-ice conditions, and prepare for possible power outages amid prolonged cold following the storm.
(Credit: Collegeville Borough/Facebook)Nearby municipalities report tighter but stable supplies
While Collegeville is entering the storm with limited salt reserves, several nearby boroughs and townships report that they are currently in stronger positions, though officials acknowledge that demand is high and deliveries remain closely timed.
In Montgomery Township, Township Manager Carolyn McCreary said the municipality is fully stocked heading into the weekend.
“We received deliveries and are now fully replenished,” McCreary said.
Montgomery Township used 4,391 tons of salt last year
“We have received 561 tons, with 700 tons on order. Our salt storage building holds 900 tons,” she said.
The township will deploy 24 plow trucks staffed by 19 employees during the storm.
Similarly, Perkasie Borough Manager Andrea Coaxum said the borough has sufficient salt for the storm, with about 400 tons remaining.
“Salt is funded each year with the new budget and ordered as needed to keep our shed full,” Coaxum said, noting that Perkasie has purchased 600 tons so far this year, compared to 1,063 tons in 2025.
Perkasie plans to operate 10 plows with 10 crew members, supported by its electric department.
“We also contract with our water/sewer authority, Perkasie Regional Authority, to assist with Town Center clean up after significant snowfall,” Coaxum said.
(Credit: Lansdalepa/Facebook)In Lansdale Borough, Public Works Director Jason Van Dame said the borough has been able to maintain supply levels by placing frequent orders amid high demand.
“Salt is currently in high demand, but we are expecting new deliveries as early as Monday or Tuesday pending road conditions,” Van Dame said. “We intend to keep our supply near capacity throughout the winter.”
Lansdale’s salt barn holds approximately 500 to 600 tons, and the borough will operate 19 pieces of equipment with 19 staff members during the storm, including subcontractors.
“I do not have an exact amount that we have gone through this season to date, but I believe our bin would empty today if we did not reorder each time we use it,” Van Dame said. “We have been fortunate in getting our orders in quickly and have salt on hand for the pending storm.”
Van Dame offered a reminder – it is still early in the season.
“With expected snow totals, it will be necessary to make sure all snow alert routes are clear of parked vehicles. The duration of the storm will mean that it will take some time to get everything cleared up after the snow stops and we appreciate the cooperation and patience of all of our residents,” he said.
Lansdale Borough Manager John Ernst agreed the borough has enough salt on hand to manage the current storm, but is already feeling the effects of increased demand across Southeastern Pennsylvania. Lansdale has placed additional orders and expects new deliveries late next week, Ernst said, adding that the borough will likely use more salt this winter than last year.
"This also means our annual expenses for salt purchases and staff overtime will likely exceed last year’s totals," he said. "We maintain a surplus to handle typical weather events and reorder as necessary to keep that buffer intact. The amount of salt used depends on the type of weather event, air temperature, and roadway conditions. Our goal is to strike a balance — keeping roads clear and safe while minimizing the corrosive impact of salt on stormwater infrastructure and reducing environmental harm."
Doylestown Township is also entering the storm in a relatively strong position, according to Township Manager Stephanie Mason.
She said the township participates in the state’s salt bid program and has already ordered about 1,100 tons of salt this winter, compared to roughly 800 tons last year.
"We have the ability to order more, if necessary. We'll have to wait and see what needs are through the remainder of the winter season," Mason said, adding the township has 20 staff that handles salting with township equipment.
"For plowing, we supplement with our staff from the water department and some outside contractors, which equates to about 30 people/equipment," she said.
Towamencin Township Manager David Kraynik said his township is also prepared.
“Towamencin is ready,” Kraynik said. “We have sufficient salt on hand, as well as plenty of drivers and vehicles.”
Towamencin ordered 1,791 tons of salt in 2025 and has ordered 1,100 tons so far this year, with roughly 500 tons currently on hand and additional deliveries expected. The township will deploy 14 vehicles with 14 drivers during the storm.
(Credit: Lansdalepa/Facebook)"We are getting 70 to 100 additional tons delivered today," Zadell said. "We have been having difficulty with salt delivery due to demand."
Zadell said the township ordered 1,200 tons so far this year. Last year, Upper Gwynedd amassed a total of 1,677 tons of salt.
"We order as needed to have a stocked supply," Zadell said. "We currently have 250 tons. After this storm, we will order another 200 to 300 tons for restock. We budgeted 2,600 tons for 2026."
During the storm, Upper Gwynedd's manpower will top out at 16 employees and 16 trucks/plows between its public works, parks and recreation, and wastewater treatment plant staff.
"We typically have a crew of only 12," Zadell said.
Collegeville urges patience, preparedness
Collegeville officials emphasized that reduced salting does not mean plowing will not occur, but that crews must conserve materials to ensure roads remain passable over the duration of the storm.
Residents were reminded to report power outages directly to PECO, clear sidewalks and fire hydrants after the storm, and avoid placing snow back into roadways. The borough also encouraged residents to check on elderly neighbors and to sign up for emergency alerts through ReadyMontco.
“With extremely cold temperatures expected after the snow stops, conditions may remain hazardous for several days,” the borough said.
As municipalities across the region navigate tight salt supplies, officials continue to stress patience, cooperation, and safety as the storm unfolds.
Why salt supplies are tight across the region
Industry officials and municipal managers cited a combination of early and repeated winter storms that depleted salt stockpiles sooner than expected, increased consumer and contractor demand, particularly ahead of multiday storms, and supply chain and delivery constraints, including transportation delays and limited reserve capacity, as all major factors in the regional shortage.
Collegeville Borough’s limited road salt supply reflects a broader regional shortage affecting municipalities, contractors, and retailers across southeastern Pennsylvania and neighboring states, driven by early winter weather and sharply increased demand.
According to regional reporting from 6abc Action News, hardware stores and municipal suppliers across the Philadelphia area have reported unusually low inventories of rock salt and ice melt products ahead of the weekend storm, with some locations selling out entirely as residents rushed to prepare.
Store employees told the station that demand surged earlier than expected this winter, outpacing deliveries and depleting supplies faster than normal.
At a salt distribution site in Bristol Township, dump trucks lined up for hours as municipalities and commercial customers sought to secure available loads before inventory ran out. A distributor told 6abc that heavy salt use earlier this winter significantly reduced reserves, forcing suppliers to increase shipments, including imports, to meet current needs. Priority deliveries were being directed to state and local governments, school districts, and emergency services.
(Credit: Pexels/Matheus Pedrosa)Similar shortages have been reported beyond southeastern Pennsylvania. In New Jersey, officials told ABC7 New York that salt supplies were tight statewide, with some towns receiving only partial deliveries as suppliers struggled to meet demand.
In Ohio, municipal officials cited delivery delays and reduced stockpiles, prompting public works departments to conserve salt by focusing treatment on hills, intersections, and major routes.
Together, these conditions have created a scenario in which some municipalities — like Collegeville — enter a major storm with less salt on hand than they would typically carry at this point in the season. Thus, they modify snow and ice operations, reserving salt for critical locations during active snowfall and delaying full roadway treatment until storms subside.
