Sandy damages salt sheds, could cost $400,000 to replace

Wind gusts during Hurricane Sandy destroyed the trusses and tin roof of two salt sheds at a Department of Public Works site on Craft Street, forcing the city to tarp the existing salt supplies for the winter. Construction of new shed, planned to begin next year, could cost upwards of $400,000.

The two sheds are more than 40 years old, according to Newton COO Bob Rooney. He said it appears that the trusses were destroyed by wind gusts moving through the east-facing mouths of the buildings.

He said the buildings werent salvageable, and neither was up to todays codes or adequately sized for snow loads. The buildings were demolished last week at a cost of roughly $15,000. Each shed was capable of holding 1,000 tons of salt.

The sheds held a combined $100,000 in salt to be used on roads this winter, none of which was accessible until the demolition. None of the salt was destroyed, but Rooney said the city would have to keep a close eye on it to ensure it remains dry and to make sure there are no runoff issues.

Salt that gets wet can dissolve or clump up, which creates major issues for the salt spreaders located on the back of the plow vehicles.

Rooney said the sheds were the only two located in the northern half of the citys snow routes. When a noreaster hit recently, he said an extra truck had to be put into service to accommodate for the lack of access to the damaged sheds. While that should be less of a problem now, Rooney said, losing the sheds will be a challenge the city will have to cope with throughout the winter.

Were going to work our hardest to keep up with every storm, said Rooney.

Rooney said the city would seek state or federal relief aid to pay for the majority of the cost of replacing the sheds.

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Sandy damages salt sheds, could cost $400,000 to replace