Gritting network and updates

Which roads are salted and gritted during winter and the latest gritting updates

During winter, we make daily decisions about when and where to salt based on local forecasts for five distinct climate 'domains', shown on the map below. We will decide whether to salt each domain or the whole salting network.

If you want to know more about our winter road service, read our frequently asked questions.

Salting/gritting updates

When we last salted, gritted or ploughed roads in Dorset

Salting/gritting map

Use the map below to see the network of roads we will salt, grit and plough during the winter. Use the Layer Control panel (on the right of the map with the icon of two rectangles) to turn on other layers such as the Ploughing Routes, Community Salting Links and more.

Guide to the Map

Salting Network

We will treat the main salting network, consisting of 680 miles of roads, when conditions are damp and road temperatures are forecast near freezing or before snow.The A31, A35 (west of Bere Regis) and A303 trunk roads are treated by the Highways Agency.

Community Links

A network of community links will also be salted when snow is forecast to connect more isolated communities to the main salted network. After snow has fallen we will plough and continue to salt/grit these roads.

Ploughing Routes

During severe snow we may need to fall back to priority ploughing routes to keep the main north-south and east-west roads open.