6/1/2010 - New solution for treating minor roads in freezing conditions : Cumbria County Council

A fleet of gritters and trucks have been out on Cumbria’s minor roads in a massive effort to make hazardous icy roads safer in the current extreme winter conditions.

The county council has received many requests from the public during the recent cold spell to provide additional road gritting, however as a result of a national shortage of rock salt it had to announce on Monday that it would be conserving dwindling rock salt stocks by only treating priority one and two routes - those chosen to maintain transport connections for as many communities as possible –with rock salt.

Now after a further spell of freezing conditions and a period of intensive contingency planning by Cumbria Highways, priority 3 routes and other areas of most need will be treated using sea washed stone chippings from a local Cumbria supplier.

The small fragments of rock will allow vehicles to gain some traction on the roads compacted with snow and ice. Rock salt would only have a limited effect anyway on roads that are already compacted with snow –the top level of snow would melt but could then refreeze later and make the road even more hazardous. There are ample supplies of chippings to treat minor roads in Cumbria, allowing precious reserves of rock salt to be used to treat the county’s 1,500 miles of priority one and two routes –the equivalent of gritting a stretch from Penrith to Barcelona.

Cumbria Highways willbe replenishing the salt heaps and grit bins located around the county. Cumbria Highways hope this will encourage people to do whatever they can reasonably do to help clear snow and ice from highways and footways near their properties by helping to spread the grit where it is most needed. However, the public is also being urged to consider the safety of others by only using the grit for its proper purpose –ie gritting public roads and footways, rather than private driveways.

The county council’s Highways Hotline has been inundated with requests from the public for their road to be gritted or to have grit bins refilled. Nearly 15,000 calls were made to the Highways Hotline over the Christmas week. People experiencing difficulties contacting the Highways Hotline can also make a request online at www.cumbria.gov.uk/roads-transport/default.asp, send an email to contact@cumbriahighways.co.uk .

Furthermore as part of the improvements in gritting, up to 1000 tonnes of a specially formulated industrial salt and sea washed chipping mix has been made available by the county council for delivery to communities most in need. Deliveries are being co-ordinated by local Highway Stewards in liaison with parish councils.

Councillor Tony Markley, Cumbria County Council’s cabinet member responsible for highways, said: "This latest innovation shows we're thinking on our feet to come up with the best solutions on how to cope in extremely harsh conditions. Cumbria is better positioned than many local authorities as we’d planned ahead and are more used than some to maintaining services in adverse conditions. Nevertheless we do need to manage our stocks of rock salt sensibly as there’s more freezing weather forecast and there’s no clarity yet on where further supplies of rock salt will be coming from.

"Our highways teams continue to work round the clock to keep the county’s road network open –but this is no longer just a county council issue and we’re working with our public and private sector partners on the best way forward. I’d urge the public in Cumbria to be careful, be patient and to look out for vulnerable neighbours, friends and families. It’s also extremely disappointing to hear reports that people have been selfishly taking grit from the public grit bins for their own needs. Please think of others and use the grit for the public highways."

Cumbria County Council is working to protect vulnerable people during the cold weather. Mountain rescue teams and volunteers have been crucial in reaching some vulnerable people in the most isolated areas. Drivers are advised to follow this checklist before going out:

All lights clean and working, washer bottle full (use a little window antifreeze).

Clean mirrors and windows inside and out.

Tyres at the right pressure with plenty of tread.

Batteryfully charged and topped up.

Full tank of petrol so that the engine and heater can keep running if the vehicle becomes stuck.

Your journey - don't take risks:

Watch the weather forecast and try to use gritted roads.

Don’t use roads which are closed –you will put yourself and others in danger and abandoned vehicles hamper snow clearance.

Tell someone at your destination what time you expect to arrive.

Do not use a mobile phone while driving. Stop somewhere safe or ask a passenger to make the call.

Your survival kit - keep these things in your car:

Thick jumper, warm coat, boots, thick gloves, blanket, mobile phone, hot drink in a flask, energy boosting food, cloth, pen, good torch and a shovel.

If possible, include a tow rope, jump leads, some sand and a solid wooden board for the jack. If you have to leave your vehicle to get help, make sure other drivers can see you.

For winter maintenance purposes, Cumbria’s road network is divided into first, second and third priority routes. First priority routes are gritted within three hours, second priority routes are gritted within five hours and third priority routes are gritted only during periods of prolonged icy conditions and when the first and second priority roads are clear.

Third priority routes tend to be more minor routes in rural areas and account for around a third of the county’s highways network.

Cumbriahas a network of nine depots, 30 gritters and around operating around the county. Cumbria Highways winter maintenance teams are on call 24 hours a day during high season and operate from a series of depots across the county.

For more information on Cumbria's winter maintenance programme including details on how quickly routes are gritted and which roads are given priority visit http://www.cumbria.gov.uk/roads-transport/highways-pavements/highway-maintenance/wintermaintenance/roadswinter.asp

Cumbria Highways is the partnership between Cumbria County Council, Capita Symonds, Amey and Connect Roads that maintains and improves Cumbria’s road network.