Roads - gritting

Salting

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.

Cumbria County Council provide road gritting as part of their Transport & Roads service.