PLENTY OF SALT. I’D SAY AT LEAST 3000 TONS, 3000 TONS OF SALT AND ANTI-SKID FILL THE ROSS TOWNSHIP SALT DOME. A MIXTURE OF OFFICIALS HERE SAY WILL BE ESSENTIAL WHEN THE SNOW STORM HITS. SNOW DOESN’T MELT WITH THE SALT UNDER 19 DEGREES VERY WELL WITHOUT SUNLIGHT AND TRAFFIC, SO THE ANTI-SKID WILL BE MIXED IN WITH THE SALT TO BETTER HELP WITH THE TRAFFIC. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS IN ROSS, KEN LEBECK, TELLS ME THEIR TRUCKS WILL BE FILLED AND 27 CREWS AT WORK BEGINNING WHEN THE SNOW STARTS TO FALL. HE SAYS 24 WILL HIT THE ROAD, PLOWING AND SALTING WHILE THREE CREWS REST IN A ROTATION. THIS IS A DIFFERENT LEVEL STORM. THIS IS CALLED IN A MORE EMERGENCY STORM, SO THE TOWNSHIP HAS A WHOLE DIFFERENT LEVEL OF PROCEDURES. IN CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP. BUTLER COUNTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS KELLY MAUER TELLS ME. WITH THE SNOW TOTALS PREDICTED, THEY WILL HANDLE THIS STORM A BIT DIFFERENTLY. REALLY, THIS EVENT IS GOING TO BE A PLOWING EVENT. SO, YOU KNOW, SAME AMOUNT OF SALT WE WOULD NORMALLY USE DURING A 24 HOUR EVENT. SAME. IT TAKES US ABOUT TWO HOURS TO DO A ROUTE IN THE TOWNSHIP. WE DO HAVE 17 ROUTES, 17 ROUTES FOR 27 DRIVERS THAT MAUER SAYS WILL BE PUT ON ALERT SATURDAY NIGHT. AND WHILE BOTH MAUER AND LEBECK SAY AS THE STORM MOVES CLOSER, PLANS COULD CHANGE, ONE THING THEY BOTH SAY IS ESSENTIAL IS THAT RESIDENTS HELP TOO. IF YOU HAVE A DRIVEWAY, PLEASE PARK IN YOUR DRIVEWAY. DO NOT SHOVEL SNOW OR SNOW. BLOW INTO THE ROAD. PLEASE PUT IT IN THE GRASS ON YOUR PROPERTY AND BE CONSIDERATE OF THE DRIVERS. THEY’LL BE GOING THERE FOR 24 PLUS HOURS. THEY’LL JUST BE KIND. YEAH, THEY’RE PEOPLE TOO. AND OFFICIALS SAY IF YOU CAN STAY OFF THE ROADS, THAT HELPS TOO. IN FACT, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR IN CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP TELLS ME THEY HAVE ALREADY CANCELED SOME EVENTS SCHEDULED THERE IN THE TOWNSHIP ON SUNDAY, AND MANY COMMUNITIES WILL LIKELY FOLLOW. SO IF YOU DO PLAN TO VENTURE OUT, YOU SHOULD REALLY CHECK FIRST. COVERING ALLEGHENY COUNTY FROM ROSS TOWNSHIP, MARCIE CIPRIANI PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR. OKAY, MARCI, THANK YOU. AND REMEMBER TO STAY UP TO DATE WITH WEATHER UPDATES AND ALERTS WITH THAT FREE WTAE APP. OUR METEOROLOGIST CONSTANTLY ANALYZED THE DATA AND UPDATE THEIR FORECAST
Crews in Ross and Cranberry townships ready for snowstorm with ample salt supplies
Updated: 7:10 PM EST Jan 22, 2026
Public works officials in Ross Township, Allegheny County, and Cranberry Township, Butler County, are preparing for this weekend’s snowstorm with ample supplies of salt and anti-skid materials, urging residents to help keep roads clear.”I’d say at least 3,000 tons,” said Ken Lebak, assistant director of public works in Ross, about the salt and anti-skid mixture filling the township’s salt dome, which will be essential when the snowstorm hits.”Snow doesn’t melt with the salt under 19 degrees very well without sunlight and traffic, so the anti-skid will be mixed in with the salt to better help with the traffic,” said Lebak.He said their trucks will be filled, and 27 crews will be at work as soon as the snow begins to fall, with 24 crews plowing and salting while three crews rest in rotation.In Cranberry Township, Public Works director Kelly Maurer described the storm as a “different level storm,” requiring a more emergency-focused response. With the predicted snow totals, Maurer said the township will handle the storm differently, focusing on the accumulation.”Really, this event is going to be a plowing event, so, you know, same amount of salt we would normally use during a 24-hour event. It takes us about two hours to do a route in the township, and we do have 17 routes,” Maurer said.The 17 routes will be managed by 27 drivers who will be on alert starting Saturday night.Both Maurer and Lebak emphasized the importance of residents’ cooperation during the storm.”If you have a driveway, please park in your driveway. Do not shovel snow or snow-blow into the road — please put it in the grass on your property. And be considerate of the drivers. They will be going there for 24-plus hours, so just be kind. They’re people too,” Lebak said.Officials also recommend staying off the roads if possible, noting that Cranberry Township has already canceled some events scheduled for Sunday, and other communities may follow suit. Residents are encouraged to check for updates before venturing out.
Public works officials in Ross Township, Allegheny County, and Cranberry Township, Butler County, are preparing for this weekend’s snowstorm with ample supplies of salt and anti-skid materials, urging residents to help keep roads clear.
“I’d say at least 3,000 tons,” said Ken Lebak, assistant director of public works in Ross, about the salt and anti-skid mixture filling the township’s salt dome, which will be essential when the snowstorm hits.
“Snow doesn’t melt with the salt under 19 degrees very well without sunlight and traffic, so the anti-skid will be mixed in with the salt to better help with the traffic,” said Lebak.
He said their trucks will be filled, and 27 crews will be at work as soon as the snow begins to fall, with 24 crews plowing and salting while three crews rest in rotation.
In Cranberry Township, Public Works director Kelly Maurer described the storm as a “different level storm,” requiring a more emergency-focused response. With the predicted snow totals, Maurer said the township will handle the storm differently, focusing on the accumulation.
“Really, this event is going to be a plowing event, so, you know, same amount of salt we would normally use during a 24-hour event. It takes us about two hours to do a route in the township, and we do have 17 routes,” Maurer said.
The 17 routes will be managed by 27 drivers who will be on alert starting Saturday night.
Both Maurer and Lebak emphasized the importance of residents’ cooperation during the storm.
“If you have a driveway, please park in your driveway. Do not shovel snow or snow-blow into the road — please put it in the grass on your property. And be considerate of the drivers. They will be going there for 24-plus hours, so just be kind. They’re people too,” Lebak said.
Officials also recommend staying off the roads if possible, noting that Cranberry Township has already canceled some events scheduled for Sunday, and other communities may follow suit. Residents are encouraged to check for updates before venturing out.