Worcestershire Prepares High-Tech Gritting Teams for Winter Roads

Worcestershire County Council is gearing up for winter with its gritting teams ready to keep roads safe using the latest technology. The official gritting season begins on Wednesday, October 15, with 35 gritters and 52 drivers prepared to respond whenever temperatures drop.

The teams will cover 26 designated routes, totaling approximately 2,100 km—around half of the county’s road network. Chris Riley, Highways Operations Manager, highlighted the advanced technology used in modern gritting operations.

“We use pre-wetted salt treated with a saline solution,” said Riley. “This reduces salt usage, makes our gritting more effective, and ensures quicker absorption on the road surface.”

The gritting vehicles are equipped with systems that continuously adjust the spread rate and width. This allows efficient coverage of dual carriageways, roundabouts, and large signal-controlled junctions without wasting material.

Technology also plays a key role in deciding when to grit. Factors such as road surface temperature, moisture levels, and the potential for frost are monitored through sensors, cameras, and specialist weather forecasts.

“It’s not just the air temperature that matters—it’s the road temperature,” explained Riley. “Our gritting schedules are designed to protect the public while ensuring drivers can work safely and get adequate rest.”

Worcestershire has been stockpiling salt in preparation for the season, with 17,000 tonnes stored across six depots. Supplies will be replenished as needed throughout the gritting season, which runs until April 15.

“December to February is typically our busiest period, but cold snaps can happen at any time,” Riley noted.