A busy winter for Gloucestershire Highways

During November’s cold snaps the county council carried out more than 10 grit runs spreading salt across the county’s key roads. Gloucestershire County Council stores 11,400 tonnes of salt at its highways depots, that’s enough to fill 114 million kitchen tabletop salt shakers. 
 
For gritting to be effective the timing is crucial. A computerised ice prediction system compares forecast conditions against actual road temperatures measured at 12 weather stations around the county. This helps our experienced highways managers choose the best time to deploy the council’s fleet of 29 gritters. 

When icy road conditions are forecast precautionary salting is carried out on priority routes including class A and B roads, roads leading to main hospitals and emergency service stations, as well as key public transport routes. These priority routes cover more than 1,000 miles, approximately one third of Gloucestershire’s total road network. 

For the narrower roads that gritting vehicles can’t reach, community action plays a big part. Thousands of grit bins are available across the county for residents to use on public paths and roads. Only a very thin layer of grit is needed, just a handful of salt can make a big difference.  

During Storm Bert Gloucestershire Highways handled over 150 calls and attended 60 emergency call outs. With record-breaking rainfall during September it’s been a wet start to the winter and there’s a risk of further flash flooding in areas where the ground is saturated.  

The county council’s proactive approach to drain clearing means that most flash flooding on roads drains away quickly. Every year we clear more than 130,000 drains across the county. Each drain is cleared at least once in the year and some more often. We also carry out reactive clearing operations in response to reports.       

Residents can also help by removing autumn leaves from the top of blocked drains (if it is safe to do so) and adding the leaves to compost or a garden waste bins. Otherwise, blocked drains can be reported online with Fix My Street.  In the case of flooding to property please use FORT to make a report. 

Communities can stay prepared for whatever the winter brings by reading the Flood Guide and Severe weather guide online. We can all help when flash flooding occurs by keeping up to date on road closures, not driving through flooded roads or moving signage which is there to protect road users, and staying up to date with news on local radio and on our social media channels – on Facebook and X (Twitter) and the website. 

Director of Transport and Highways Jason Humm said: “Our highways teams are working every day to help keep the roads safe during winter. We’re ready to respond 24/7 to snow, ice, heavy rain or storms, on top of routine maintenance and repair work – clearing drains and fixing potholes during the day and gritting the roads at night. It’s a busy time of year and residents can help by staying aware of weather conditions, driving with care and reporting issues online with Fix My Street.”