Emergencies in Waterford : Road Conditions

Road Conditions, Gritting etc.

Our Emergency Contact Numbers are as follows :
051-849862/849589, during office hours. 051-875555 outside office hours.

- See a map of our gritting routes here.
- View our webcam on The Mall, Waterford.

What roads do we grit ?
The roads gritted are the main roads within the city and are the most important roads used by people in everyday situations. These routes are divided into Priority One and Priority Two routes. See a map here.
When there are severe ice or snow conditions, we focus on gritting these key routes so that traffic can move safely around the city. This often means that we are unable to treat routes off the main road network, as repeated action on the key routes is necessary to keep them clear. If conditions allow, then ad hoc gritting of other routes may be carried out.

How do you decide when to grit?
During the winter season (October to April), the NRA in association with Met Éireann, operate an Ice Prediction Service, which provides forecasts of when gritting is required. We couple this with local weather conditions, to make our schedules.

Why don’t you turn off the gritter when you approach a passing car?
If we turned off the gritters as we approached either oncoming or parked cars, it would result in inconsistent road surface conditions which would provide an additional hazard to road users.
Can you guarantee that the roads you grit are free from ice?
No, we cannot guarantee that any roads on our priority routes are ice free. It takes approximately 4 hours for the City Council to complete the Priority One and Priority Two routes.
We generally try to grit prior to ice forming. However, this is not always possible as sometimes it freezes rapidly after rain, with the rain having washed away any salt which had been spread previously. You should always drive as if the road was not treated.
What's the difference between salt and grit?
The most common material used to treat road surfaces prior to freezing conditions is rock salt. Rock salt is mined from underground. It is a brown colour because it is unrefined.
Grit, which is mostly coarse natural sand, is only usually used on hard-packed snow and ice. In conditions where snow has already settled, grit can be mixed with salt to help break up frozen surfaces. Because most people familiar with them, the terms 'gritting', 'gritter' and 'grit bin' are often used to describe the road treatment, vehicles and roadside containers we use even though they are more likely to refer to rock salt, than grit.
How does salting/gritting the road work?
Road salt works by lowering the temperature at which water freezes. It relies on the action of vehicle tyres to be spread over the road, so requires traffic to be effective.
Can it get too cold for salt to work?
Yes. Salt will work at temperatures down to minus 8-10 degrees C. Below that, salted roads will still freeze.
Why do you need to repeatedly grit the roads?
Rain or snow will wash the salt away, leaving roads prone to re-icing. Salting ideally needs to take place after rain but before freezing.
Can I/should I remove ice from the road outside my house/business?
Yes - and please do so. See here for more information.
I am worried in case someone is injured on a road or footpath from which I have cleared snow or have gritted. Can I be sued because of this?
This is unlikely, so long as you have been sensible with what you have done. For example, clearing snow away with water would not be regarded as sensible, because the water would freeze and make things worse. Clearing snow by sweeping or shovelling it out of the way or applying salt are accepted good practice.
Do I need special salt and how much salt do I need to keep my path clear?
You can prevent ice from forming on footpaths by spreading salt at the rate of 25g per square metre (roughly a tablespoon). Table salt, dishwasher salt or rock salt from a hardware store are all effective. Steps and steep paths may require a little extra. Be careful not to spread salt on plants or grass as it may damage them.
Can I use water to clear paths?
No. If you use water to melt the snow, it may refreeze and turn to black ice. Black ice increases the risk of injuries as it is invisible and very slippery. This can also occur if you use water to clear frost from car windscreens and let water fall onto the ground.