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How we keep the roads clear in winter

Our gritting teams are ready for winter and are out on main routes in Plymouth when road temperatures have been due to fall below freezing.

Crews from the Council and SWH Group monitor the weather closely via a dedicated forecast station and two sensor stations, to ensure roads are pre-treated with salt before temperatures drop and help prevent icy patches from forming.

Six dedicated gritters are on 24-hour standby during the winter season to keep the city’s main routes clear.

All the vehicles are fitted with a tracking device that monitors the tonnage of salt used on different parts of the network during each trip.

Our salt barn at Prince Rock Depot is stocked with around 1,000 tonnes of salt and 400 community salt bins around the city have been topped up for people to use locally on public roads and footways in colder weather.

Teams are also ready to respond to other weather-related issues such as fallen trees, blocked gullies and localised flooding – as well as manage traffic flow and help keep road users safe in dark, wet and cold conditions.

For regular winter service updates follow @plymhighways on Twitter.

Grit Facts

  • A full gritting run covers more than 40 per cent of the city’s road network and takes about three hours
  • The 400 grit bins around the city can be used by residents to treat public roads or footpaths – salt from these bins should not be stockpiled for use on private property

Grit Tips

  • If you want to treat pavements and driveways in front of your property you should only need a tablespoon of salt for each square metre. Ordinary table salt and dishwasher salt can also be used before temperatures fall below freezing. 
  • Avoid using hot water to clear snow or ice as this freezes and makes conditions even more dangerous