Bradford Council aims to provide safe conditions for road users throughout the winter period. Gritting is carried out to ensure that the transport links which are essential to economic and social activity can continue safely throughout most of the winter period (mid-October to mid-April).
Please click on the links below to read information about the winter maintenance operations:
Once you have read the information on this page, if you feel it necessary to request a particular road is gritted, you can do this on the Gritting Request Online Form*
*Please note - the operational and financial resources available for the winter maintenance service mean that it is not the intention and is not possible to respond to all requests for gritting or keep all roads free from ice and snow at all times. However, the information received from requests for gritting is used to identify trouble spots as well as plan our winter maintenance operations for the following winter.
Gritting Routes
The Council aims to keep the most important roads safe and as free as possible from hazards. During wintry conditions resources are targeted to the areas of greatest need. All roads have been assessed, given a priority, and fall into one of the following categories:
- Precautionary Gritting Route - covering approximately 710 miles, equivalent to 69% of the adopted highway network. The route covers:
- Main and heavily trafficked roads
- Roads connecting isolated communities
- Bus routes
- Access to fire, police and ambulance stations and hospitals
- Known trouble spots (e.g. steep gradients, tight bends and exposed areas)
- High Level Gritting Route - that part of the precautionary network which is above 500ft. In Bradford the Ring Road is a good guide as it is approximately 500ft above sea level.
- Rapid Response Gritting Route - routes which are the basic minimum required to ensure that the transport links which are essential to commercial and economic activity can continue safely, including all the main arterial routes and the Ring Road.
Other than city centre routes, footways are not routinely gritted. In periods of persistent cold or icy weather mini-gritters are deployed in town and city centres and then move out to footways on the main arterial roads and village centres. Unadopted roads will not be treated.
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Weather Forecasting
To be most effective, the treatment should be spread before ice forms or snow settles. Anticipating these conditions, and reacting correctly, depends on a mixture of local knowledge and experience, good local weather forecasts and an awareness of the current road condition e.g. is it wet, dry, previously treated or not etc.
The Council receives two weather forecasts on a daily basis - a 24 hour forecast and a 2 to 5 day forecast. The 24 hours forecast is updated if there are any changes. In addition to this, a morning and early evening summary are also sent by the Met Office, as well as a hazards forecast.
In addition to receiving weather forecasts, the Council has two weather stations, one at Queensbury and one at Silsden. There are sensors contained within the road adjacent to the stations, providing surface and air temperatures and other useful meteorological information. You can view this information by clicking on the following link below. Enabled sites are shown in green and by clicking on a site more information is given:
Traffic Weather website
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Fleet
The Council has 31 gritters available, all of which can be fitted with ploughs if required. Ploughs will only be fitted when snowfalls of more than 50mm are forecast.
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Rock Salt
The rock salt used by the Council is conventional 6mm rock salt, but treated with a 3% molasses blend. The benefit of using this product is that we can treat the roads using less salt and it is less corrosive than conventional rock salt.
During a normal precautionary grit, the rock salt is spread at a rate of 10g / m2, but this can be increased to cope with worsening weather conditions. In snow conditions, 10mm conventional rock salt (as this is more effective for snow) is spread at a rate of 40g / m2. All rock salt used by the Council is to the appropriate British Standard.
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Grit Bins
Grit bins are located at strategic points throughout the District, on or adjacent to the highway, to assist in areas where problems have been encountered in previous years both on and off recognised routes. They are filled at the start of the winter period and replenished as necessary throughout the winter period. There are approximately 500 grit bins in use throughout the District.
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Self Gritting
There is no facility for members of the public to self load their own containers. The rock salt we use is NOT for private use. Please use your own salt if you wish to treat access to your home or your drive. If the Council find that residents are using rock salt from grit bins for personal use, we will not replenish stockpile in that particular bin.
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Other useful information
Treatment time - this is the period between vehicles leaving the depot and the completion of the treatment on the Precautionary Gritting Route. The target time is 2½ hours and should be completed prior to ice forming on the network. If treatment coincides with peak travel periods, gritters will become delayed or stuck in the traffic they are trying to assist. The time taken for snow clearance is also dependent on prevailing weather and traffic conditions.
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Before and during winter – what you can do
- Before winter arrives, check your vehicle …
- has been maintained / serviced.
- tyres have a good tread depth (including spare).
- cooling system contains anti-freeze at correct strength.
- windscreen wipers and washers are working properly.
- washer bottles are full and contain a suitable additive to prevent freezing.
- carries a screen scraper and de-icer.
- battery is in good condition, topped up and fully charged.
- Before driving in wintry weather conditions, check …
- local and national radio / TV for travel and weather information.
- all vehicle lights are clean and working.
- all windows and mirrors are clear from frost and snow.
- In extreme conditions, ask yourself …
- is your journey necessary.
- have you checked weather forecasts and road conditions and carefully considered the advice given.
- have you a full tank of fuel.
- does anyone know your destination and expected time of arrival.
- have you warm clothing, hot drinks, food, Wellingtons, a torch and shovel with you.
- Remember, in ice and snow conditions the action of traffic is needed to help and disperse salt.
- Not all roads are treated.
- Stick to main roads which have been salted.
- Allow extra time for your journey in wintry weather.
- Delaying the time you leave work can help reduce congestion.
- When driving in wintry weather conditions, check you …
- are driving with due care appropriate to conditions on both treated and untreated roads.
- reduce speed in snow and icy conditions.
- are driving in the highest gear possible to help keep control of the vehicle.
- avoid harsh braking and acceleration.
- maintain a safe stopping distance relative to prevailing conditions.
- are using dipped headlights in poor visibility and snow.
- use rear fog lights in poor visibility and switch them off when conditions improve.
- are watching out for other road users including motor and pedal cycles, pedestrians and children playing.
- If you get into trouble …
- stay with your vehicle if possible until help arrives.
- if you have to leave your vehicle make yourself visible to other road users.
- if you are forced to abandon your vehicle give local police the details (0845 60 60 60 6) and park in such a way as to ensure you are not obstructing Winter Maintenance vehicles trying to treat the roads. Remember, a gritter is twice the width of a car.
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