Winter Gritting Update: Keeping Blackburn with Darwen Moving

The Council’s Highways teams have been operating at peak capacity to keep roads safe and moving during the cold weather.

Since New Year’s Day, Blackburn with Darwen has seen temperatures plummet. To combat this and keep our roads safe, our teams have been working around the clock. In fact, the council’s gritters have been deployed 16 times, treating 150 miles of priority routes each time and spreading 380 tonnes of grit.

Priority routes include main roads, bus routes, emergency service access roads and steep hills, with secondary routes treated when conditions allow. M65 is the responsibility of National Highways.

Duty officers mobilise the fleet when road surface temperatures are forecast to fall below freezing. Each run typically takes around two hours, with gritting normally completed within four hours.

Thanks to this work, no schools have closed due to road conditions.

We’re supported by almost 450 grit bins across the borough. Filled at the start of the season, they’re currently being refilled to ensure residents stay safe during icy conditions. We also have 100 volunteer Grit Squads, where residents come together to keep their communities safe.

Grit bins are provided in residential areas, steep hills (over 10% gradient), and other special locations. If grit bins become empty again, residents can request a refill via the Council’s contact centre.

Visit our website to find our gritting routes, the location of grit bins and winter safety advice.

Councillor Quesir Mahmood, Executive Member for Growth and Development, said:

Our crews are on standby 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The call to go out could come at any hour, and teams are ready to respond immediately.

I want to thank the entire highways team for their dedication during this challenging period. It’s vital we focus on key routes to ensure the network remains safe and each run takes considerable effort, often multiple times within a 24-hour period.

I would also like to extend my thanks to our dedicated army of Grit Squad volunteers who work tirelessly to help keep local communities moving. They deserve real recognition for all they do.

When it comes to gritting areas that are not treated by the council, choosing the right time to grit is crucial. Instead of using the air temperature, it’s important to use the road surface temperature. Keep an eye on BwD Roads Facebook page to see when the gritters are being sent out, so you can aim to grit at the same time.

The recommended level is 1tsp of grit per square metre. Take a palm full and spread it like you would if you were feeding chickens. Ensure you spread grit evenly on slopes and well-used paths. If there’s snow on the ground, make sure you clear that before gritting.

And remember, if the weather is treacherous, consider delaying trips, working from home or using public transport, where possible. If you must drive, plan your route, allow extra time, stick to the main roads where you can and remember to adjust your driving to the conditions – even when roads appear clear.

More advice on winter driving can be found on RoSPA.