Salting and gritting
We try hard to keep roads and pavements safe from ice and snow in winter but it's always worth planning ahead when driving. Make sure you are wearing warm clothes and have a shovel in the boot of your car, in case you get stuck in the snow.
How we decide when to treat the roads
We use a computerised ice-detection system, combined with 24 hour weather forecasts and thorough local knowledge to decide when to treat the roads in East Sussex. Treatment can take place at any time, but is usually in the evening, or early morning if rain is forecast before frost.
The weather forecast for East Sussex roads is updated daily at midday, including weekends, from November to mid-March. This information is provided for different areas of the county:
- the northern part of the county including Forest Row, Crowborough, Wadhurst, Heathfield through to Hurst Green
- the central part of the county from Ditchling via Ringmer, Hailsham, Herstmonceux to the north of Hastings
- the coastal area.
Winter weather
Winter weather is not just ice and snow. We have to take action when there is:
- black ice – very difficult to see on the road surface
- hoar frost – where ice crystals form on the surface of the road, making it very slippery
- freezing rain – when rain falls on very cold surfaces and freezes. It is very rare but extremely difficult to deal with as any salt spread before the rain started is usually washed away and re-salting is then needed to treat the frozen surface.
Salting
We are responsible for almost 2,000 miles of road in the county and we pre-salt about 800 miles. We select these roads because:
- they are busier, especially during morning and evening rush hours
- some lead to places such as hospitals, schools, ambulance and fire stations
- they are main road bus routes (this does not include all roads used by buses in the county).
Salting is done by lorries, from seven local depots. They are ready for action 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on 25 gritting routes covering key roads. We also have two snow blowers, available 24 hours a day, to use when there is heavy snowfall.
Salt is stored in barns at our highway depots, to protect it from the rain. In winter 2005–2006, we tested a new treatment called Safecoat, designed to make the salt stick to the road, halving the amount required. This will reduce the environmental impact and stop salt bouncing off the road surface.
Pavements are salted and cleared by hand when it snows. The shopping areas of busy towns and villages take priority, followed by residential areas and side streets as conditions permit.
Snow ploughing
During or following snowfalls we plough busier roads first, then smaller roads to gradually free the network. Roads with traffic calming humps and cushions may not be ploughed as these can damage the ploughs.
Local farmers and contractors are also paid to help clear snow, usually from minor rural roads.
Grit bins
We maintain existing grit bins at the roadside, but we no longer provide new ones. Parish councils, residents associations and other groups can buy and install grit bins for a new site with written permission from their local area highway office. You can also get current costs for supplying and filling a grit bin. To refill an empty bin, please ask for the next convenient date and pay in advance.
Further information
Download our leaflet: ESH04 – Road maintenance in the winter.
