Winter Maintenance
Kent County Council's Kent Highway Services are responsible for
salting main roads to help prevent the frost and ice forming on
them. They also clear snow from the highway with priority given to
the main routes and provide road salt bins.
The Highways service receives forecasts from the Meteorological
Office compiled specifically for Kents roads. They advise whether
road surfaces are likely to fall below freezing during the
following 24 hours so that the main routes can be salted before
ice, frost or snow forms. The team is also on standby to react to
emergency conditions caused by unpredictable weather.
There is a stockpile of around 35,000 tonnes of salt to treat all A
and B class roads, busy commuter routes and danger spots. It can
take up to two and a quarter hours to complete a salting run. The
Highways Helpline on 08458 247 800 can give you details about the
roads that will be treated.
When snow falls across the county, the 60 winter maintenance
vehicles, which can plough snow and salt at the same time,
concentrate on keeping the main routes open. If snow continues to
fall or there are strong winds, this becomes a continuous
process.
Once the main routes are clear, other roads are worked on a
priority or needs basis. We also have agreements with about 240
farmers across the county, who clear snow for us.
Keep up-to-date with the latest weather bulletins by visiting BBC
weather or Meridian, tuning in to BBC Radio Kent or watching the
BBC or Meridian channels.
Kent Highway Services
Invicta House
County Hall
Maidstone
KENT
ME14 1XX
Email Kent Highway
Services
Telephone: 0845 8247 800
Useful Websites
This webpage was updated on 4/30/2008