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When severe weather hits Liverpool, gritters cover an extensive 600 kilometers of roads in a single operation, sometimes completing a second round as early as 4 a.m. This commitment helps ensure that the city keeps moving during the challenging winter months. Below are several important facts that clarify common misunderstandings about gritting and how the process works to maintain safer roads.
One frequent misconception is that salt spread on roads instantly melts ice. In reality, applying salt merely begins the de-icing process. For salt to be effective, it needs to be moved around by passing traffic, which helps break up the ice. During low-traffic hours, such as overnight, roads may remain slippery for a while, so caution is advised. Another popular belief is that salt prevents ice from forming altogether. While salt does lower the freezing point of water, preventing ice formation at 0°C, it ceases to function effectively at temperatures around -5°C and stops working near -10°C. The purpose of applying salt before snowfall is to create a layer that separates snow from the road surface, allowing snowplows or passing vehicles to clear or break it up more easily.
Some think that spreading salt directly onto fresh snow will make it melt faster, but this is not the case. Salt works best when most of the snow has already been cleared, allowing traffic to distribute the salt evenly. To protect road surfaces from damage caused by ploughs, snow is usually removed to a depth of around 20mm before salt is applied. Additionally, salt’s ability to melt ice diminishes significantly at temperatures below -8°C, and it becomes much less effective below -5°C, limiting how well it can clear icy conditions when it is extremely cold.
There are also concerns from residents about clearing snow or ice from their own driveways or pathways out of fear of legal liability. However, it is completely permissible for anyone to remove snow and ice from public pavements outside their homes or other communal areas to reduce slipping risks. Anyone wishing to do this safely can follow guidelines advised by official sources. Regarding salt spreading, people sometimes notice gritters passing by without salt visibly being spread. This is because modern gritters use computer-controlled systems that release salt precisely onto the road surface, rather than spraying it broadly, which prevents salt from splashing onto cars or pedestrians. In some cases, the gritter may be returning to the depot or approaching the start of its route. The trucks can also distribute salt to one side if needed to cover the entire width of the road even if driving down only one side. Beyond road treatment, teams also salt key footpaths, particularly in the city centre, and Liverpool maintains 191 community grit bins placed strategically in areas with high foot traffic. Details on the locations of community grit bins and the roads treated by gritters are available on the city council’s website
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