We use 6 millimetre crushed rock salt to melt ice or prevent it from forming on the roads during winter. Usually, this is spread onto the road using a purpose-built machine, mounted on a wagon. The spreaders are designed to give an even distribution of salt across the road and spread the salt at a controlled rate. To prevent ice from forming, we spread salt at fifteen grammes per square metre. But more is needed to melt ice which has already formed and the rate of spread can be increased to 40 grammes per square metre to achieve this. The wagons also have fittings which enable a snowplough to be fitted when it is needed.
We have pre-planned salting routes which cover all the first and second priority roads (see our winter driving leaflet below). Once the decision is made to treat these roads ahead of the forecast formation of ice, each driver will know exactly which roads he will be salting and in which order. We record all the starting and finishing times of the salting runs, as we undertake to complete all first priority routes within three hours and all second priority routes in five hours.
Each year, we publish the first and second priority roads in the county and provide advice and contact numbers for the winter gritting service.