Salting and gritting
Our Winter Service Policy
Our Winter Service Policy for 2009/2010 sets out how we plan to keep all road users safe on winter roads in East Sussex.
Salting
Precautionary salting is carried out on over 800 miles of the county's road network by East Sussex County Council.
The Highways Agency carries out precautionary salting on 56 miles of trunk roads (A27/A259 Pevensey to Hastings and Hastings to Kent, A21 Kent to Hastings boundary, and A26 Beddingham to Newhaven).
We salt a priority network of routes, which cover all the main traffic routes, and provides a treated link from each main village. Generally, no other roads will be salted except when there are prolonged icy spells or severe snow conditions.
We use a fleet of 25 dedicated vehicles to spread salt at a rate of 10 to 20 grammes per square metre when road frosts are forecast. Between 100 and 200 tonnes of salt is used each time every gritter goes out.
Highway engineers can access four roadside weather stations, equipped with both atmospheric and road sensors, 24 hours a day. This information is used by the weather forecasters to prepare daily forecasts which enable highway engineers to predict when action is needed to keep the roads safe.
Salt bins
We provide a number of salt bins at known trouble spots where difficulties arise because of ice or snow. These areas include steep hills, dangerous bends and footbridges.
Parish or town councils may provide their own bins. We will refill these, provided the location has been agreed and the parish pay for it to be filled.
If you want a new bin please contact your parish or town council. If you represent a parish or town council and would like to have a salt bin filled please contact your local highways office.
We do not fill privately owned salt bins.
Why are roads sometimes still icy?
Despite the high level of service provided, no guarantee can be given that treated roads will always be completely clear of ice or snow.
On average, weather forecasts are approximately 90% accurate. In most winters, this means that there are seven days when a road frost is not forecast but will still occur.
- It takes time for the salt to become effective after roads are salted.
- Rain can wash salt off roads leaving them prone to re-icing.
- In severe cold weather (below –8°C) even salt will not prevent roads from icing.
- If freezing follows rain, salting will normally start after the rain has stopped to avoid salt being washed away. Temperatures may fall by as much as 5°C per hour and the wet roads may well freeze before the gritter has been able to salt them.
- Dawn frost occurs on dry roads where early morning dew falls on cold road surfaces and freezes on impact. It is impossible to forecast with any accuracy where and when this may happen.
- When rain turns to snow during the rush hour, early salting is washed away and gritters are unable make progress due to traffic congestion.
- Treated roads can still therefore have icy patches and drivers should remain vigilant and aware of the need to drive carefully at all times, especially when road frosts follow rain.
Further information
Download our leaflet: ESH04 – Road maintenance in the winter.
For tips on how to deal with snow and freezing conditions, read our page about Winter driving.
