The Amherst Town Council approved changes to its winter maintenance rules on March 23, 2026, that will result in salt being spread on more streets across the town of Amherst, Nova Scotia. This update to the local Snow and Ice Management Policy aims to make travel safer for everyone who drives, walks, or cycles during the winter months.
Under the new rules, salt treatment will now be used on secondary streets, which are residential roads that did not receive salt in the past. The Amherst Town Council decided to replace the old and vague “as needed” instruction with a clear standard that tells crews to salt the roads “when conditions warrant.”
The changes take effect immediately and will apply to the current winter season and all future seasons. The town’s Public Works department, which includes 24 full-time and seasonal employees working out of the McCully Street garage, will now have firmer directions on when to treat these residential routes.
Mayor Rob Small and the rest of the council moved forward with the plan after a staff review focused on road salting service levels. Amherst is the largest town in Cumberland County with 9,800 residents and is located about 200 kilometres northwest of Halifax.
While the town works to improve road safety, it also monitors environmental standards. Environment Canada provides guidelines for managing road salt usage, which the town is using to give its workers more flexibility and better guidance when managing icy conditions.
