Isle of Wight Gritters Keep Roads Clear Despite Milder Winter
The Isle of Wight’s highway teams have been hard at work this winter, using around 550 tonnes of salt to keep the roads safe. Despite a milder season, with just 23 salt treatment runs compared to 35 in 2014/15, Island Roads have maintained a strong presence on the roads from November 1 to March 31 – the designated winter period.
Milder Winter Means Fewer Gritting Runs
This winter saw fewer grit runs thanks to warmer conditions. Island Roads deployed salt in a ‘pre-wet’ form to ensure immediate action on icy surfaces. The fleet includes six state-of-the-art gritters, charmingly named by Island children: Brad Gritt, Sally the Salt Spreader, Snowy the Gritter, Frosty, George, and Goliath.
Spot Treatments Rise Due to Wet Conditions
“This year was comparatively mild but extremely wet,” said Dave Wallis, Island Roads maintenance manager. “We had an increase in ‘spot treatments’ to top up salt where surface water runoff washed away deposits. We’ll review these areas for next winter’s plan.”
Unexpected runoff caused extra work in zones not previously affected, pushing Island Roads to adjust their gritting strategies on the fly.
Fighting Floods with Monthly Gully Cleansing
To tackle heavy rainfall and flooding risks, 275 flood-prone sites across the island received monthly gully cleansing between October and March. The effort follows the 2014 Flood Investigation Report by the Isle of Wight Council.
Last autumn saw the launch of the “Ditch It” campaign, urging landowners to manage water runoff responsibly. Extra water on roads and pavements raises the risk of potholes and surface damage, especially at this time of year.
Community and Council Join Forces for Safer Roads
The combined efforts of winter salting, drainage improvements, and landowner cooperation aim to keep the Island’s roads smooth and safe. Meanwhile, Island Roads continues large-scale renewal works to repair damage and prevent defects throughout the year.
Schools interested in learning about winter road safety and the gritting fleet can contact Island Roads at [email protected] to arrange a visit ahead of next winter’s programme.
