Gritting crews on standby for colder weather

Our highways team is prepped and primed for when the temperatures drop this winter.

Nearly 100 crew members are on 24/7 standby, ready to spring into action to keep key routes safe and passable throughout the colder months.

Depots are fully stocked with rock salt, and a fleet of gritting vehicles is raring to go, all part of the our winter resilience plan.

Our gritting network covers 684 miles of road across 23 main gritting routes. These are treated when road surface temperatures are forecast to fall below 0.5°C. During prolonged cold spells, additional community routes serving smaller villages and hamlets are also treated to help keep rural Dorset moving.

Cllr Jon Andrews, Cabinet member for Place Services, said:

“We know how quickly conditions can change, so our teams are ready to respond the moment temperatures drop.

“They step away from their regular highways duties to help keep Dorset moving, ensuring residents, businesses and emergency services can travel safely, whatever the weather.

“As the gritting crews are also responsible for other highways maintenance, there may be times when gritting takes priority, which could delay other routine work.

“I thank them all for their commitment. Whether it’s the middle of the night or during the day, they ensure that the roads are as safe as possible.”

Cllr Andrews added:

“Please be patient and courteous if you find yourself behind a gritter. Our crews are out in all weathers to keep you safe. Please take care, reduce speed and keep a safe distance from the next vehicle. Remember, even if gritters have been out, roads can still be slippery.”

Drive with care on freshly gritted roads
Salt (grit) needs traffic to help it work. It is crushed into an effective solution as vehicles drive over it. If you’re one of the first motorists on a freshly gritted road, please drive carefully. Rain or water run-off can also reduce the effectiveness of salt, so always remain cautious, even on treated routes as it cannot be guaranteed there will be no ice.

Winter 2024–25 in numbers
From 1 November to 1 April, our gritting crews were called out on 79 occasions, carrying out 1,167 individual treatments and spreading 2,407 tonnes of salt.
The busiest month was January, when our crews went out 35 times, laying a total of 1,247 tonnes of salt.

In November 2024, heavy snow showers brought parts of the county to a standstill. In response, seven snow ploughs were deployed to tackle the severe conditions and help reopen key routes.

Here is a reminder of some of last year's action.

Our gritting network
The 23 main gritting routes, known as the precautionary network, include:

• A, B, and well-used C roads
• Routes to hospitals, emergency services, and key transport hubs
• Roads serving large schools and industrial estates
• Primary bus routes and main roads through towns and villages with over 750 residents

We also grit the A35 trunk road between Bere Regis and Charmouth on behalf of National Highways.

For further information on gritting routes and actions please visit Gritting routes map - Dorset Council

When snow falls, our priority ploughing network ensures key north-south and east-west routes are cleared first, before moving on to the wider network.

Smarter, greener gritting
The council uses a route-based weather forecasting system to target gritting only where and when it’s needed. This approach reduces salt use, cuts down on vehicle journeys, and helps protect the environment – all while keeping roads safe.

See the Met Office advice for driving safely in winter weather 

See how you can be ready for winter in Dorset