Winter travel and road information - Friday 08 January 2010
Devon County Council is treating the primary road network in Devon to help keep Devon moving. All 'A' roads and other major routes are currently being treated with salt during this winter weather period. With Met Office predictions that this weather is set to continue for the next 10 days, Devon County Council is aiming to continue to treat and keep open the primary road network, some 1,600 miles of roads - 20% of the roads in Devon.

There are 1,550 grit bins located throughout the county, which are being restocked regularly (where they can be accessed). These are available for residents to use to grit the public roads and pavements only and not for private driveway use.

Highway depots are now closed to the public and salt or grit is not available for public use from these highway depots. The public and Parish Councils should not visit depots. If you must travel, please use the public roadside grit bins that are nearest to you.

Estate roads will not be treated. Please use the grit bins available for treating these roads.

We cannot respond to reports of ice which aren't on the primary road network.

We are currently trying to keep paths in town centres clear of snow.

Just because a road has been treated it does not mean there will not be any ice - drive with care.

If it snows at the weekend, Devon County Council's priority will again be to keep the primary road network open.

If you must travel, be prepared. Make sure someone knows where you are going, wear warm clothes, take with you: a charged mobile phone, a shovel, blanket, torch, de-icer and high visibility clothing.

This unprecedented winter weather period is being experienced not only nationally but also in Europe which means there have been very high demands on salt supplies. Some local authorities have already limited the roads they are treating. Devon County Council is aiming to maintain treatment of the primary road network during this predicted winter weather period over the next 10 days.

Devon County Council is respsonsible for over 12,800km (8,000miles) of road from major 'A' roads to narrow country lanes. This is the longest highway network in England.