Commonly known as grit (or crushed rock salt) this is spread on the carriageway in an attempt to stop ice from forming on the road surface. This works by creating a solution and lowering the freezing point of moisture on the road surface. However, even when the road has been treated ice may still form.
Examples of this are after a rain shower or where there is a drainage issue causing the grit to be washed off the road. For this reason, we recommend that extra care is taken and road users should drive to the road conditions in sub-zero temperatures.
Clackmannanshire Council follow national guidance, taking into account current conditions and the daily weather forecast. Depending on these conditions and the forecast, salt spread rates vary from 10 to 40 grams per square metre.
In difficult conditions, for example if it’s heavy snow, we will treat our main roads continuously, with successive grits meaning the use
of grit is far higher.
Grit is meant to prevent ice from forming on the road surface, however during snow events grit will generally not stop the snow from settling, unless the snowfall is very light.
When there is significant snowfall it will generally settle on the road and gritters are deployed to plough and re-treat, sometimes continuously.
Grit also relies on the roads being driven on and vehicle tyres help with the process. This is why the tyre tracks turn black whilst the remainder of the road remains covered in snow or slush.
During adverse weather we will treat priority routes (main roads, bus routes, etc) first and continue to clear these until they are in an acceptable condition before moving onto secondary routes.
Roads, Traffic & Transportation
Kilncraigs, Greenside Street, Alloa, FK10 1EB
Tel: 01259 450000
Email: roads@clacks.gov.uk