Here are the roads around Shepton Mallet that will be gritted this winter
Around 900 miles of Somerset's road network will still be gritted over the winter months despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Somerset County Council, which is responsible for highway matters, has published a map showing all the routes it intends to treat with its fleet of 23 gritters as the nights begin to draw in.
Around one-fifth of the county's road network will be treated by the county council, on top of Highways England's work to ensure the M5 and A303 remain passable.
The council has also issued advice for motorists to prevent them from being stranded or requiring emergency help in the event of adverse weather conditions.
Here's everything you need to know about everything that is being done to keep Somerset moving this winter:
When are the roads gritted?
The council carries out gritting when road surface temperatures are predicted to drop below 1C and ice or snow is expected.
Precautionary gritting normally takes place before the formation of ice – meaning you're most likely to see gritting lorries out in the evening or early-morning.
If we get snow, the gritters can be equipped with snowploughs, and the council will use its links with local farmers and snowplough operators to ensure the primary road network remains open.
How does the council decide which roads are gritted?
The council decides which roads will be gritted based on a number of criteria – namely:
- Connectivity between major communities (e.g. A38 between Taunton and Bridgwater)
- Links to the strategic highway network (e.g. the M5, A303 and A36)
- Connectivity across local authority boundaries (e.g. the A30 into Devon)
- Links to transport interchanges (e.g. railway and bus stations)
- Access to emergency facilities (e.g. Musgrove Park Hospital)
- Links to critical infrastructure (e.g. petrol stations)
- Other locally important facilities (e.g. RNAS Yeovilton, major quarries)
- Links to major settlements (500+ properties)
- Links to urban schools (500+ pupils) and rural schools (300+ pupils)
- Continuity with other sections of the highway network
Have any roads been cut back this year because of the pandemic?
The short answer is: no. The council did scale back its gritting operations as part of a swathe of budget cuts agreed in September 2018, reducing its network coverage to 720 miles. But these cuts were reversed for the winter of 2019/20 – and every road which was treated that winter will be treated this coming winter as well. The main addition to the network this year are the new roads being constructed around the improved M5 Junction 25 in Taunton.Which roads are being gritted?
Alongside the M5 and A303 (and A36 near Frome), most major A-roads through the county will be gritted through the winter. These include:- The A30 between the Devon border and the Dorset borders via Chard, Crewkerne, Yeovil, Milborne Port and Henstridge
- The A358 between the Devon border and Williton via Chard, Ilminster and Taunton
- The A359 between Yeovil and Frome via Sparkford and Bruton
- The A38 between the Devon border and Highbridge/Burnham-on-Sea via Wellington, Taunton and Bridgwater
- The A39 between Minehead and Chewton Mendip via Williton, Bridgwater, Street, Glastonbury and Wells
- The A3088 connecting the A303 to Yeovil
A smaller number of significant B-roads will also be treated, such as the B3165 near Crewkerne and the B3153 between Somerton and Castle Cary.
Here's a full list of the routes which were restored to the council's gritting map last year – and which remain in place for this winter:
Mendip
B3081 (southern end), Evercreech
B3110 Frome Road, Norton St PhilipB3136 Bath Road, Shepton Mallet
Brewery Lane, nr Stratton-on-the-FosseBurnt House Lane, Stoke St Michael
Chilkwell Street, GlastonburyClink Road, Frome
Highbury Street, HighburyKnaptons Hill, Mells
Leigh Street, Leigh-upon-MendipLock's Hill/ Rossiter's Hill/ Rossiter's Road, Frome
Long Cross Bottom/ Mendip Road, Stoke St MichaelOld Wells Road, Shepton Mallet
Quarry Road, MellsRodden Road, Frome
Selwood Road/ Welshmill Lane, FromeSomers Hill, Leigh-upon-Mendip
St Peters Road, Shepton MalletTansey, nr Cranmore
Whatcombe Road, FromeWookey Hole Road, Wells
Sedgemoor
B3135 Axbridge Road, Cheddar
B3135 Cliff Road, CheddarB3141 Causeway, Woolavington
B3141 Church Road, East HuntspillB3339 Wembdon Rise, Bridgwater
Brook Street/ High Street/ Main Street, CanningtonCheddar Road/ High Street/ Jubilee Road/ St Mary's Street, Axbridge
Cliff Street, CheddarCollege Way, Bridgwater
Durleigh Road, BridgwaterHamp Green Rise, Bridgwater
King's Drive, BridgwaterParkway, Bridgwater
Plummer's Lane, nr PriddyRodway, Cannington
Shipham Road, Cheddar Somerset West and Taunton A3087 Castle Street, TauntonB3188, Monksilver
B3223 Room Hill Lane, ExfordAbbey Road, Washford
Amory Road, DulvertonAsh Lane, Withypool
Calway Lane, TauntonCheddon Road, Taunton
Cothelstone Road/ Mount Street/ Station Road, Bishops LydeardDene Road, Cotford St Luke
Eastwick Road, TauntonExeter Road, Rockwell Green
Five Bells/ North Road, WillitonHigher Park Lane, Wheddon Cross
Honiton Road, ChurchinfordKinsford Hill, Simonsbath
Langaller Lane/ Lipe Lane/ St Michael's Road, Creech St MichaelLydon's Hill, Brompton Regis
Lyngford Lane, TauntonMain Road, Bishopswood
Main Road, Buckland St MaryMilton Hill, Monkton Heathfield
Monument Road, WellingtonBossington Drive/ Nerrols Drive, Taunton
Porlock Road/ The Parks, MineheadRuishton Lane, Ruishton
Scott's Hill, Huish ChampflowerSelworthy Road, Taunton
Solomon's Hollow/ Windmill Hill, North CurrySouth Street, Wiveliscombe
Staplegrove Road, TauntonTaunton Gateway Park and Ride and associated new roads, Taunton
South Somerset
A3066, North Perrott
B3081 (northern end), BrutonB3151 Edmunds Hill, Ilchester
B3165 Sutton Hill, Long SuttonB3168 (eastern end), Ilminster
Bayford Hill/High Street, WincantonBroad Hill, Hardington Mandeville
Broadway, MerriottBroadway Road, Broadway
Combe Hill/Stooper's Hill, Combe St NicholasCombe Street Lane, Yeovil
Crimchard, ChardDancing Lane, Wincanton
Dorchester Road, nr ClosworthGlynswood, Chard
Halves Lane/ Primrose Road, North CokerHarp Road, nr South Petherton
Hayes End/ Lightgate Road/ Silver Street, South PethertonHead Street/ Yeovil Road, Tintinhull
Holloway, LopenLong Orchard Hill/ Townsend, Ilminster
Montacute Road, MontacuteNew Road, Seavington St Michael
Preston Road, YeovilSandhurst Road, nr North Coker
Springfield Road, WincantonSt Michael's Avenue, Yeovil
Stiby Road, YeovilStoke Road, Martock
Stourton Way, YeovilThorne Lane, Yeovil
Tintinhull Road, YeovilWest Hill, Wincanton
Western AvenueWhat can I do to avoid getting stuck?
The council has issued the following advice for drivers driving in cold or icy weather in the coming months:- Prepare your vehicle for winter – check your tyre pressures, fuel, oil, washer fluid levels
- Allow extra time for your journey
- Give gritters and snow ploughs plenty of room
- Carry a shovel and blankets in your vehicle
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