Winter Gritting

What is winter maintenance?

We aim to help ensure the safety of road users and keep traffic moving by:

• Spreading salt to prevent ice forming or to help thaw ice
• Clearing snow that has accumulated on roads.

We get our weather information from the Met Office and over the winter period we receive daily weather forecasts. There are also sensors in the surface of key roads around the county and all of this is useful to help us make more informed decisions.

What do we maintain?

All roads in the city apart from the A34, A50 and A500 and their slip roads and junctions which are maintained by the Highway Agency.

How do we prioritise?

• 'First priority' routes are those which carry the most traffic, including main bus routes and town centre routes. These are salted when frost is forecast and we aim to do this within two hours of the salting vehicles leaving the depot.
• 'Second priority' routes are treated after first priority routes are clear and these include:
  • Minor roads and access roads to hospitals.
  • Bus routes in residential areas.
  • Main roads to rural communities.

Interesting facts

• Salt is spread between 75 and 95 nights on an average winter.
• In total we use around 3000 tonnes of rock salt.
• 530km of roads will be covered using nine vehicles during late evening or during the night.
• There are around 400 salt boxes around the city during the winter months. These are for public use and are usually found on steep footpaths and in busy areas such as close to clinics, estate shops, and residential homes.

• We are responsible for around 850km of roads in the city.

Contact us

To find out about your nearest salt box or any further information please call 01782 234234 and ask to speak to the winter maintenance officer or e-mail enquiries@stoke.gov.uk