birminghamnewsroom.com » Winter Alerts

Gritting alert – March 18

geoffc — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 13:55:57 +0000

Precautionary treatment of the Birmingham network from 8pm. Please take extra care on the roads.

Winter maintenance and gritting plans – http://birminghamnewsroom.com/?p=5746

Winter weather travel tips – http://birminghamnewsroom.com/?p=14233

Weather disruption round-up – http://weather-disruption.birmingham.gov.uk/

Regional Information

The panel below brings together gritting alerts from local authorities across the West Midlands. You can also get this information via the following RSS feed: http://rss.coveritlive.com/rss.php?altcast_code=f0c64fbec0

West Midlands Gritting Alerts

Local volunteers from the Open Street Map project have kindly mapped gritting routes onto their map. While we can accept no liability for any errors, we’re very grateful to them for their contribution.

You can view the gritting map by visiting: http://mappa-mercia.org/gritting-map.shtml

Weather Updates

BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/2102

Met Office: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/wm/wm_forecast_weather.html

Gritting alert – March 4

Gritting alert – February 3

Gritting alert – February 6

Gritting alert – March 5

geoffc — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 14:28:17 +0000

Precautionary treatment of the Birmingham network from 7pm. Please take extra care on the roads.

Winter maintenance and gritting plans – http://birminghamnewsroom.com/?p=5746

Winter weather travel tips – http://birminghamnewsroom.com/?p=14233

Weather disruption round-up – http://weather-disruption.birmingham.gov.uk/

Regional Information

You can view the gritting map by visiting: http://mappa-mercia.org/gritting-map.shtml

Weather Updates

BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/2102

Met Office: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/wm/wm_forecast_weather.html

Gritting alert – March 4

Gritting alert – March 18

Birmingham gritting alert – Jan 6

Gritting alert – March 4

geoffc — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 14:14:52 +0000

Precautionary treatment of the Birmingham network from 7pm. Please take extra care on the roads.

Winter maintenance and gritting plans – http://birminghamnewsroom.com/?p=5746

Winter weather travel tips – http://birminghamnewsroom.com/?p=14233

Weather disruption round-up – http://weather-disruption.birmingham.gov.uk/

Regional Information

West Midlands Gritting Alerts

You can view the gritting map by visiting: http://mappa-mercia.org/gritting-map.shtml

Weather Updates

BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/2102

Met Office: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/wm/wm_forecast_weather.html

Gritting alert – March 18

Gritting alert – March 5

Gritting alert – February 6

Gritting alert – February 19

geoffc — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 13:33:53 +0000

Precautionary treatment of the Birmingham network once again from 6pm. Please take extra care on the roads.

Winter maintenance and gritting plans – http://birminghamnewsroom.com/?p=5746

Winter weather travel tips – http://birminghamnewsroom.com/?p=14233

Weather disruption round-up – http://weather-disruption.birmingham.gov.uk/

Regional Information

West Midlands Gritting Alerts

You can view the gritting map by visiting: http://mappa-mercia.org/gritting-map.shtml

Weather Updates

BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/2102

Met Office: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/wm/wm_forecast_weather.html

Gritting alert – February 2

Gritting alert – February 5

Gritting alert – February 6

Gritting alert – February 18

geoffc — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 14:52:48 +0000

Precautionary treatment of the Birmingham network once again this evening. Please take extra care on the roads.

Winter maintenance and gritting plans – http://birminghamnewsroom.com/?p=5746

Winter driving tips – http://birminghamnewsroom.com/2012/02/winter-driving-tips/

The science of gritting - http://birminghamnewsroom.com/2012/02/a-brief-science-of-gritting-and-ploughing/

Winter weather travel tips – http://birminghamnewsroom.com/?p=14233

Weather disruption round-up – http://weather-disruption.birmingham.gov.uk/

Regional Information

West Midlands Gritting Alerts

Local volunteers from the Open Street Map project have kindly mappe

Gritting alert – February 11

Gritting alert – February 3

Gritting alert – February 5

Gritting alert – February 11

geoffc — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:55:38 +0000

Precautionary treatment of the Birmingham network once again at 5pm. Please take extra care on the roads.

Winter maintenance and gritting plans – http://birminghamnewsroom.com/?p=5746

Winter driving tips – http://birminghamnewsroom.com/2012/02/winter-driving-tips/

The science of gritting - http://birminghamnewsroom.com/2012/02/a-brief-science-of-gritting-and-ploughing/

Winter weather travel tips – http://birminghamnewsroom.com/?p=14233

Weather disruption round-up – http://weather-disruption.birmingham.gov.uk/

Regional Information

West Midlands Gritting Alerts

Local volunteers from the Open Street Map project have kindly mappe

Gritting alert – February 18

Gritting alert – February 3

Gritting alert – February 5

Gritting alert – February 10

geoffc — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:54:27 +0000

Precautionary treatment of the Birmingham network once again this evening. Please take extra care on the roads.

We will then grit priority footways at 4am.

Winter maintenance and gritting plans – http://birminghamnewsroom.com/?p=5746

Winter driving tips – http://birminghamnewsroom.com/2012/02/winter-driving-tips/

The science of gritting - http://birminghamnewsroom.com/2012/02/a-brief-science-of-gritting-and-ploughing/

Winter weather travel tips – http://birminghamnewsroom.com/?p=14233

Weather disruption round-up – http://weather-disruption.birmingham.gov.uk/

Regional Information

West Midlands Gritting Alerts

You can view the gritting map by visiting: http://mappa-mercia.org/gritting-map.shtml

Weather Updates

BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/2102

Met Office: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/wm/wm_forecast_weather.html

Gritting alert – February 2

Gritting alert – February 3

Gritting alert – February 5

Gritting alert – February 9 (11am and 7pm)

geoffc — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:03:26 +0000

With the Met office forecasting snow this afternoon, we are gritting Birmingham’s roads from 11am. Please take extra care on the roads.

We’ve already gritted priority footways.

19:00 UPDATE Gritters going out for the second time today, following rain/sleet.

Winter maintenance and gritting plans – http://birminghamnewsroom.com/?p=5746

Winter driving tips – http://birminghamnewsroom.com/2012/02/winter-driving-tips/

The science of gritting - http://birminghamnewsroom.com/2012/02/a-brief-science-of-gritting-and-ploughing/

Winter weather travel tips – http://birminghamnewsroom.com/?p=14233

Weather disruption round-up – http://weather-disruption.birmingham.gov.uk/

Regional Information

West Midlands Gritting Alerts

You can view the gritting map by visiting: http://mappa-mercia.org/gritting-map.shtml

Weather Updates

BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/2102

Met Office: http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/wm/wm_forecast_weather.html

Gritting alert – February 2

Gritting alert – February 5

Gritting alert – February 7

A brief science of gritting and ploughing

geoffc — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:08:19 +0000

Although the process of road salting is referred to as gritting there is in fact little or no grit involved. What is actually spread on the roads is mined rock salt (Sodium Chloride) of a size and composition for road use.
Rock salt was first used for the purposes of winter road maintenance in the 1940′s and is an effective de-icer for areas that receive road traffic.
It is a hydroscopic material in that draws moisture to it and also draws heat from the environment rather than releasing it.
The rock salt is spread on to the road in varying rates of spread dependent on the severity of the conditions.
The effectiveness of rock salt on roads is enhanced by vehicles passing over larger granules and grinding it into smaller particles spread across the road surface area. This then forms a solution with a higher de-icing capability.
Whilst water freezes at 0°C, the presence of the salt prevents water from freezing until -6°C to -8°C.
However, salt starts to become less effective at -5°C and almost ineffective at lower temperatures.
In extremely low temperatures, or heavy snowfall, a mix of salt and grit may be used to aid traction.

Ploughing

In relation to snow ploughing this provides the ability to remove large accumulations of snow from the centre of roads.
However it should be recognised that ploughing has limitations in that it effectively skims the road surface leaving around 30-50mm of snow on the surface.
It can also result in large amounts of snow accumulating at the sides of roads and on footways and following prolonged periods of gritting can reduce the overall effectiveness of de-icing operations by removing slush which has a high level of salt solution.

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Birmingham gritting update – Dec 13

Winter driving tips

geoffc — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:59:18 +0000

With further snow and icy conditions forecast over the next few days, Birmingham City Council is urging motorists to take extra care on the city roads.

Gritting teams are again on standby to treat a network of 1,200km of roads across Birmingham – during last weekend’s snow the roads were gritted four times in just over 24 hours.

After a mild first half of the winter, Birmingham’s roads have been gritted 16 times in the last two weeks.

And, with the Met Office forecasting more snow for Friday, motorists are being urged to play their part in efforts to keep the city moving.

Director, Highways & Resilience, John Blakemore, said: “With the Met Office predicting more snow and ice, our gritting crews are on standby. At the same time, we’re asking motorists to take the weather conditions into account when making journeys.

“Our advice is to be prepared and, in extreme weather, only make journeys that are absolutely necessary. Never assume it’s safe to travel at normal speeds even if the roads have been gritted. Journeys in the snow will inevitably take longer but safety and not speed should be your priority.”

Winter driving

Your journey will almost certainly take longer than during the summer months, so allow extra time for it.
Dark and poor weather conditions make driving more hazardous – slow down.
Remember it will take considerably longer to stop in icy conditions so allow plenty of room to slow down and stop.
Manoeuvre gently using a high gear avoiding harsh braking and acceleration.
Keep your windscreen and all other windows clean and free from ice and snow.
Keep de-icer in you car. Also keep some in your house for when it is so frosty you can’t get in to your car.
Keep headlights clean and in working order.
Use dipped headlights in poor weather and dull conditions. Never use foglights unless visibility is seriously reduced.
Take care – pedestrians and cyclists may not be as visible as they think they are.
Check www.birminghamnewsroom.com and monitor the #wmgrit hashtag on Twitter for gritting news and alerts for Birmingham and the wider West Midlands region.
Listen to local radio stations to check road conditions before venturing out and take heed of the advice given.
Check the weather forecast.
Remember – it is always better to arrive late for work than to not arrive at all…

When Do We Grit?

Amey Birmingham Ltd undertakes the Winter Maintenance service under the Highway Maintenance and Management PFI partnership for Birmingham.

Duty officers monitor both road and weather conditions around the clock during the winter period, analysing all information available which enable them to make an informed decision on when to grit the roads.

The information available to the duty officer includes a special forecast directly from a forecasting service provider, which is specific to forecast road temperatures and conditions within the West Midlands. This includes direct contact with an experienced forecaster who can give up to the minute advice on condition forecasts. In addition, to enable the duty officers to keep a constant watch on road conditions the council operates ten weather stations around the city and shares the information from a further 20 stations owned by our neighbouring Councils. The information from these stations is collected via a specialised web site.

When the information available to the duty officer indicates that wintry conditions will affect our roads, the gritting fleet is called into action.

In Times of Snow

When a snow fall is expected greater quantities of rock salt is spread on the roads beforehand to slow the rate of the snow settling. Then, if the snow begins to settle, further salt is spread to mix in with the snow to aid its melting. Unfortunately, salt alone has a limited effect on snow and it is only the actions of re-salting and the crushing of the salt by vehicle movement that will disperse and melt the snow. We cannot plough the snow until a depth of around 40mm (1.5 inches) is reached.

For more information contact Geoff Coleman on 0121 303 3501

Winter weather travel tips

Overnight driving warning

Winter maintenance and gritting plans