Technically, winter doesn’t start for another few weeks, but the Chicago winter season is here. I know this because the giant salt mountain is in place and ready for action. We are armed with over 400,000 tons of salt! This is according to every newscast I have seen or heard over the last four days. Most televised reports also include the gratuitous shot of a reporter standing in front of the giant mountain of salt.

ID 30875238 © Elliot Burlingham | Dreamstime.com

Chicago’s hysteria over salt dates back to 1979, when the city was effectively shut down by a blizzard. Then-presiding Mayor Michael Bilandic is often blamed for his inaction. This led to a domino effect which saw Jane Byrne win the election as Mayor and the Democratic machine come to an end. Since then, Mayor Byrne and all her successors (Harold Washington, Eugene Sawyer and Richard M. Daley) have always made sure to have plenty of salt available. The city taxes and unemployment rates are both too high, but stinginess in salting the roads is the quickest path to political suicide.

All weekend we heard of the incoming snowstorm. By Saturday afternoon, salt trucks were already manned and stationed on all expressways and major streets. By early Sunday evening, I think more salt was on the road than snow. Monday morning, Chicagoans, already in really bad moods (thanks to the lackluster performance by the Bears Sunday night), woke up to about 2-3 inches of the white stuff, although very little of it was actually on the streets. The streets were barely wet, thanks to the Herculean effort from the salt truck forces. Of course, traffic was still horrible, because over the summer, Chicagoans forgot how to drive in these conditions.

In 2007, Chicago used 500,000 tons of salt, but the 62 inches of snow was the heaviest in 30 years. The total cost for the snow removal in 2007 was $27 million. This year, Chicago has $20 million budgeted (and everyone is hoping we get less snow than last year). Due to a long-term contract still running, Chicago pays only $40 per ton of salt as opposed to the $120 per ton going rate.

Mayor Daley is also very aware of keeping the major routes to O’Hare airport clear. Although Mayor Daley is not responsible for the clearing of the actual airport, working closely with the O’Hare officials ensures that the weather will have as minimal effect on flights as possible. Not only does this keep travelers happier, it prevents huge losses caused by delays.

It can be a long winter stretch if Chicago gets heavy snowfalls. It seems even longer when traveling becomes a tedious, time-consuming chore. I am feeling good about it though. I take great comfort in the giant salt mountain. -John Wroblewski, distribution specialist