A huge salt and sand storage barn is being built at the Town of Potsdam’s Highway Department on Madrid Avenue. It was to be completed by the end of August, said Bryan Merkwa, of Hybrid Solutions, who was hired for the project. NCNow photo.

POTSDAM – A large, half million dollar salt and sand storage shed began to take shape at the Potsdam Town Highway Department at 19 Madrid Avenue last week and was to be completed by the end of August.

Hybrid Building Solutions, based in Clarence Center, Genesee County, New York, was building the barn. At the time, co-owner Bryan Merkwa said it should be finished by the end of August.

“The shed will expedite the highway guys’ ability to get out and do the wintery roads a lot quicker and better. The sand and salt will be workable material – dry and not frozen,” said Merkwa.

The Sourcewell building will be completed for $531,659 according to the town contract with Hybrid. The town has received a 50/50 match grant of up to $285,205 through the New York Water Quality Grant program to help pay for the structure.

The town was responsible for installing electricity at the site, the concrete pad for the building, paving around the site and dug the trenches for the footers, all which cost about $70,000.

Mari Louise Merkwa, co-owner of Hybrid Building Solutions told town board members earlier this year that the footers of the storage shed are designed to be able to stock sand up to 90 feet against them or be hit by a loader at 25 mph.