Salt shipments arrive in Philly after boats gets stuck in Delaware River

Thousands of tons of salt arrived in Philadelphia on Thursday after barges carrying shipments were stuck in the icy Delaware River.

The two barges carrying 21,000 tons of salt were enroute to Fairless Hills in Bucks County on Wednesday but became stuck in the icy waters. One of the barges was then rerouted to Paulsboro, New Jersey, and arrived there Thursday morning.

Trucks then transported the salt to various locations in Philadelphia. A shipment of 11,000 tons of salt arrived in Northeast Philadelphia.

Over the next few days, a caravan of trucks will take the salt shipments to other Philadelphia locations.

“Obviously a challenge. Our shipment was placed. The order was enroute and then the temperatures hit. The river froze and the shipment was diverted to Paulsboro,” Philadelphia Streets Commissioner Kristin Del Rossi said.

City leaders said there was never a shortage of salt but they were spreading it efficiently and watching usage until more salt arrived by barge. Deliveries have been slowed and rerouted because of the frigid conditions and an abnormal amount of ice on the Delaware River.

The U.S. Coast Guard continues to break up large chunks of ice on the river so that more ships can get through.

According to the Streets Department, 15,000 tons of salt have been delivered to Philadelphia so far. That’s about 700 truckloads with each truck carrying about 20 tons.

The city said it’s still waiting for about 6,000 more tons of salt to be delivered. The second barge is traveling north. No word yet on when the rest of it will arrive.