Burlington Department of Public Works Gears Up for First Storm of the Season

Burlington's Department of Public Works is gearing up for the first snow storm of the 2025-26 season, which is set to blow in on Tuesday.

This year, said DPW Director Brian White, the Department will be making a bigger shift to liquid brine instead of rock salt to pre-treat the roadways. Unlike traditional salt, which must first dissolve to work, the pre-mixed brine acts immediately, forming a layer atop the ground that makes it harder for ice to stick to the asphalt, even when driven upon. This in turn makes plowing easier and conditions safer.

While western states have used liquid treatments for years, said White, New England has been slower to adopt these methods. This approach is better for the environment and has support from state and national environmental agencies since it reduces salt usage.

For snow removal, the DPW has about 33 contractor vehicles in addition to town-owned plows. When storms drop three inches or more, contractors are called in to help the town equipment keep up with the volume. The snow clearing strategy includes:

• Pre-treating hills, trouble spots, and main roads
• Using the highway division's larger trucks on major routes like Cambridge Street and Middlesex Turnpike
• Assigning other divisions (water and sewer, cemetery, etc.) to side streets and smaller roads

The department is now finalizing contractor applications and setting rates for the upcoming winter season, with equipment levels expected to match previous years. Interested in plowing for the town? Call 781-270-1677.

As a part of keeping roadways clear for snow management, an overnight parking ban is in effect in the town of Burlington, MA, from December 1 through April 1. Vehicles parked on the street between the hours of 2:00 AM and 8:00 AM could be fined $25.

This is set to be a snowy week in Burlington, with further chances for snow on Thursday and over the weekend.