A fleet of 40 gritters, supported by four reserves, and more than 80 specially trained drivers are ready to mobilise when the temperatures drop. Salting is primarily focused on Hampshire's ‘Priority One’ network, covering around 1,560 miles of road, approximately 30 per cent of the county's entire highway network, including the busiest routes that carry the highest volumes of traffic and provide access to key services and communities.
The new salting system uses satellite navigation and pre-planned route data to automatically adjust where salt is spread and the amount applied. It also provides turn-by-turn guidance that allows drivers to fully focus on the road. By removing the need for manual control of the spreader while driving, the technology improves safety and reduces salt wastage.
Alongside its salting programme, the County Council provides more than 4,000 community salt bins across Hampshire for use during periods of severe winter weather. This salt is especially useful to ‘join-up’ neighbourhood roads and pavements with main roads.
Councillor Steve Forster, Hampshire County Council's Executive Member for Highways and Passenger Transport, said: "Our gritter drivers do an extraordinary job in some of the most challenging conditions, often working through the night to keep vital services accessible and communities connected. This new vehicle technology is designed to support that work, ensuring salt is applied with more precision while allowing drivers to focus fully on the road ahead.
"This is one important part of a wider winter service that is geared to manage whatever the season throws at us, whether that's icy roads, snow, storms, fallen trees or other weather-related disruption. Teams monitor conditions around the clock to respond wherever and whenever they are needed to help keep Hampshire moving.
“Winter weather can take a toll on our roads. That's why maintaining and repairing Hampshire's highways continues to be a key focus throughout the season, alongside our efforts to keep routes clear and safe during periods of severe weather."
Every year, our gritter drivers take refresher training, such as test drives and speed awareness, so they can operate safely as they salt Hampshire’s priority routes.
To support winter operations, the County Council has stockpiled around 19,000 tonnes of salt across its depots. Stocks are continuously monitored and replenished throughout the season to ensure supplies remain available when needed. All of Hampshire's gritting vehicles can also be fitted with snow ploughs, providing additional capability to help keep key routes open during significant snowfall.
The County Council's winter service is supported by a network of weather stations, which provide the data needed to produce daily forecasts and treatment recommendations. Road surface temperatures are monitored across six 'climatic zones', enabling a more targeted approach by treating only those parts of the county where freezing conditions are expected.
Brine, a liquid salt solution, can be applied ahead of forecast frost or ice to help prevent it from forming on the road surface. Dry salt is typically used in wetter or more severe conditions, such as after heavy rain or in advance of snow, where additional treatment is needed.
Some of Hampshire’s winter vehicles have been named by local schools and community groups, including Snow Patroller, Gritsy Bitsy Spider, The Saltinator, Grit Expectations, Buzz Iceclear, Elvis Spreadsley and Spready the Eagle.
Moore information about Hampshire's winter service, including salting routes, is available here.