Skip to content
  1. Do it online
  2. Login
  3. Have your say
  4. My Durham

Winter gritting routes


Find information about our winter roads service including the roads in County Durham which are identified as gritting routes.

Follow us on Twitter #twittergritterNE to keep up to date with our winter roads service.

Our road gritting service

Pre-salting (gritting) is the laying of rock salt before frosty conditions. It stops ice forming on the road surface. Our road network is split into priority 1 and priority 2 routes.

  • Priority 1 routes: These routes typically include all of the A roads and the majority of the B roads, most bus routes and other busy areas. 
  • Priority 2 routes: In times of prolonged severe weather we will also treat some minor and C roads, as resources become available.

The A1, A19 and A66 roads are managed by Highways England. 

Winter gritting video transcript (PDF) [119KB]

Today's gritting plans

Find out about today's gritting plans - which roads we plan to grit and/or which roads we have gritted.

How are decisions made?

The decision to pre-salt (grit) the road network is based on forecasts for:

  • winter weather
  • road surface temperature
  • dampness of the road surface
  • air temperature and humidity

Snow clearance

Find information about road and footpath clearance during heavy snow.



Share this page

Share this page on Facebook Share this page on Facebook Share this page on Twitter Share this page on Twitter