Gritting routes in North East and North Yorkshire as temperatures drop

The Met Office have confirmed that the frosty nights are closing in as, according to tonight’s weather forecast, many North East areas might see “localised frost by dawn.”

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With temperatures dropping as low as five-degrees tonight, it’s no wonder gritters might be on standby across the region.

Let’s take a look at the gritting routes across the North East and North Yorkshire by local authority.

Durham County Council

Durham County Council separate its gritting routes into two priorities, with priority one being routes that typically include A-roads and the majority of B-roads, most bus routes and other busy areas.

Priority two routes are usually treated during “prolonged severe weather” according to the council, they will also treat some minor and C-roads “as resources become available.”

Darlington Borough Council

Routes are also separated into two priority with priority one routes being gritted first and priority two routes only being gritted during “extreme and prolonged icy conditions.”

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Middlesbrough Council

Middlesbrough Council separate their gritting routes into three main priority groups, priority one groups are pre-salted at any time in response to weather forecasts.

Priority two routes are only salted during normal working hours and when priority one roads are clear.

Other routes will only be salted in the most exceptional circumstances which, according to the council, “will occur in the aftermath of heavy prolonged snow when Priority one and two routes are clear.

Hartlepool Borough Council

Although Hartlepool Borough Council does not offer a more defined explanation of their route system when it comes to gritting, it can be assumed that it will be followed similar to other council’s.

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North Yorkshire County

North Yorkshire County Council explain that all their gritting crews are on call 24 hours a day between October and April and will treat North Yorkshire roads whenever they are needed.

The council uses priority routes differently due to the area gritting crews need to cover.

Priority one routes are all roads that connect or pass through towns and are gritted by 7am.

Priority two routes are roads that give access to local communities and are gritted by 10am.

Unmarked routes will only be gritted if conditions las for over 72 hours and resources are low.

Here are the gritting routes in all major North Yorkshire towns:

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