HIGHWAYS crews in Dorset are on standby and ready to spring into action to keep our roads safe as the temperature drops.

Almost 100 crew members are currently on standby 24/7 to frit roads across the county to keep routes safe and passable throughout the colder months.

Depots are fully stocked with rock salt, and a fleet of gritting vehicles is raring to go, all part of the our winter resilience plan.

Dorset Council’s gritting network covers 684 miles of road across 23 main gritting routes. These are treated when road surface temperatures are forecast to fall below 0.5°C.

During prolonged cold spells, additional community routes serving smaller villages and hamlets are also treated to help keep rural Dorset moving.

Councillor Jon Andrews, cabinet member for place services, said the team are ready to respond the moment temperatures drop.

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“They step away from their regular highways duties to help keep Dorset moving, ensuring residents, businesses and emergency services can travel safely, whatever the weather,” he said.

“As the gritting crews are also responsible for other highways maintenance, there may be times when gritting takes priority, which could delay other routine work.

“I thank them all for their commitment. Whether it’s the middle of the night or during the day, they ensure that the roads are as safe as possible.”

He is asking travellers to be patient and courteous if they find themselves behind a gritter.

“Our crews are out in all weathers to keep you safe. Please take care, reduce speed and keep a safe distance from the next vehicle,” he said. “Remember, even if gritters have been out, roads can still be slippery.”

Salt (grit) needs traffic to help it work. It is crushed into an effective solution as vehicles drive over it.

The council is encouraging drivers to pay extra care if they are one of the first motorists on a freshly gritted road

Rain or water run-off can also reduce the effectiveness of salt, so always remain cautious, even on treated routes as it cannot be guaranteed there will be no ice.

Winter 2024 to 25 in numbers

Gritting crews were called out 79 times from November 2024 to April 2025 as they carried out 1,167 individual treatments and spreading 2,407 tonnes of salt.

The busiest month was January, when crews went out 35 times, laying a total of 1,247 tonnes of salt.

In November 2024, heavy snow showers brought parts of the county to a standstill. In response, seven snow ploughs were deployed to tackle the severe conditions and help reopen key routes.

The 23 main gritting routes, known as the precautionary network, include: A, B, and well-used C roads, routes to hospitals, emergency services, and key transport hubs, roads serving large schools and industrial estates as well as primary bus routes and main roads through towns and villages with over 750 residents.

The A35 trunk road between Bere Regis and Charmouth is also gritted on behalf of National Highways.

For further information on gritting routes and actions visit Gritting routes map – Dorset Council

When snow falls, our priority ploughing network ensures key north-south and east-west routes are cleared first, before moving on to the wider network.