Winter maintenance salting routes

Winter Salting Programme for 2008 to 2009

You have told us that the condition of Bedfordshire’s roads is your top priority. To help keep you safe on our local roads this winter, we have put together a comprehensive road salting programme across the whole of the county.

When do we salt?

Salting is carried out when road temperatures are expected to drop below zero, and when the roads are expected to be damp. Ice will not form on a dry road surface in a dry atmosphere. We try to carry out salting after the evening peak or before the morning peak traffic periods. However, during adverse weather conditions, we may have to salt at other times as well.

How do we know when to salt?

Bedfordshire uses an Icelert computer system, which collects weather and road information at different sites across the county.  It also tells us if any salt is left on the road from the previous salting. This helps us to use salt wisely  and efficiently.

The Met Office| (new window) uses this Icelert weather information along  with other weather data to  predict weather conditions and road surface temperatures  within Bedfordshire.

What roads do we salt?

On average we salt 644 miles (1,036 km) in one run across the county. The map overleaf will show you which roads we will be salting over the coming winter months. These roads have been chosen as they carry the highest amount of traffic, with the highest risk of accidents.

All A and B roads are salted  along with important local roads. When it snows, roads will be cleared according to their priority. While Bedfordshire County Council’s Highways team and our partners will keep your roads as safe as possible, the weather  is an unpredictable force and  even with the most modern forecasting methods and tools. 

For further information

If you have any questions about the winter salting programme, please contact a member of our Highways Helpdesk team on  (01234) 228661.

Bedford Borough Council look after the winter salting programme in Bedford, Kempston, Biddenham, Great Denham, Elstow and Bromham. They can be contacted on (01234) 276422.

Carillion on behalf of the Highways Agency look after the salting programme for the M1, A1, A5 and A421. They may be contacted on (01536) 413700.

 Salting routes 2008-09| (pdf document opens in new window)

 Bedford and Kempston routes| (pdf document opens in new window)

 Dunstable and Houghton Regis routes| (pdf document opens in new window)

 Leighton Linslade routes| (pdf document opens in new window)