Gritters Deployed in Summer Heatwaves to Protect Roads
The trucks, typically used in winter, also serve a crucial function during the summer months.
During a summer heatwave, gritters are being deployed nationwide to prevent road damage caused by high temperatures.
Although gritters are commonly associated with snow and ice, Richard Fenwick, director of highways at Warwickshire County Council, explained they are frequently utilized in summer as well.
Fenwick noted that during heatwaves with temperatures of 30C or higher, road surfaces can reach up to 50C, increasing the risk of melting.
To address this, crews are using gritter lorries to spread granite dust and crushed stone on roads. This helps absorb leaking bitumen, stabilizes the surface, and prevents it from becoming slippery.
Highways teams are dispatched to inspect areas, often relying on reports from the public.
"Once a site is checked, if the roads look like they are 'fatting out', the gritters are deployed," Fenwick said.
"Fatting out" is a visual sign that the road surface is beginning to break down.
This occurs when excess liquid bitumen or tar rises to the surface of an asphalt road, creating a smooth, shiny, and often sticky black layer that covers the road's natural texture.
Staffordshire County Council also monitors its road network and anticipates the heatwave will impact its roads.
"To this end, we have four dusting vehicles stationed across the county, ready to spread granite dust on any road that needs it," the council stated.
"The granite is different from the grit we spread in winter, as it is designed to absorb soft bitumen and stabilize the road surface."
Gritters in Summer
While the heat may feel intense to people, black road surfaces absorb even more heat, reaching temperatures as high as 55C under direct sunlight.
During the current heatwave, some parts of the road network are expected to begin melting.
However, predicting which areas will be affected is challenging because road compositions vary across regions.
Heavily-used roads may have asphalt that remains solid up to 80C, making them more resistant to heat.
Busy roads often have multiple asphalt layers; rural roads typically have two layers, while roads with higher traffic volumes may have three.
Traffic engineers face trade-offs when designing roads.
For example, harder road surfaces perform better in summer but become more brittle and prone to cracking in winter.
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