Gritting and salt bins

- Overview
- Gritting routes and priorities
- Request gritting
- Salt bins and heaps
- Request a salt bin refill or a new salt bin or heap
- Traffic cameras

Overview

In wintry conditions we make sure that roads in Gateshead are as safe as possible by gritting the roads and clearing snow. 

This can start as early as October, with staff constantly monitoring weather data, CCTV cameras and weather reporting tools.  
 

Gritting routes and priorities 

In Gateshead we have 600 miles of road, and we must prioritise our gritting routes. 

• our first priority must be the roads with high levels of traffic such as the Felling by-pass and the A195 through Blaydon, we then move onto other main roads and bus routes
• we do our best to clear footpaths by hand around shopping centres, bus stops, footbridges and where a large number of older people live 
• in deep snow we use snow ploughs to clear roads and help us continue gritting - this inevitably leads to snow being piled until we can clear it 
• we cannot clear residential areas during periods of adverse weather unless it is for an emergency 
• we do not grit private roads 

The A1 and A194 are gritted by Highways England. For information on their winter gritting programme, phone their enquiries line on 0300 123 5000 or visit their website. 

View a map of our gritting routes (Image) [958KB] (opens new window)
 

Request gritting 

• Unfortunately, limited resources in severe winter weather mean that we cannot respond to all requests for gritting.  We will record and consider your request, but it will be subject to priority and resources. 
• Salt bins and heaps are positioned around Gateshead for you to use on roads and paths. 
• You can use our online form to request gritting for special circumstances, such as funerals or planned hospital visits. 

Request gritting

Alternatively, you can call our customer service team on 0191 433 7000.
 

Salt bins and heaps

We provide salt bins to help you to keep residential roads and streets clear. 

Salt bins are topped up regularly, but during severe weather we can't provide timescales for this as our workforce will be very busy. 

Salt heaps may be delivered in extreme weather situations based on location and footfall. 

Please do not use salt from our salt bins on your own private property - salt bins are for communal use to help members of the public to keep roads and public footpaths safe for traffic and pedestrians. 

We no longer sell rock salt to members of the public or businesses. Rock salt can be purchased at DIY stores across the borough.
 

Request a salt bin refill or a new salt bin or heap

Requests for refills will only be considered after we have gritted our priority routes. 

Salt bins will only be topped up on request when resources are available. 

Request a salt bin refill or a new salt bin or heap

Alternatively, you can call our customer service team on 0191 433 7000. 
 

Traffic cameras

You can view the Tyne and Wear traffic cameras (opens new window)  across Tyne and Wear. These cameras show regular images of traffic and weather conditions and may help to plan your journey.