Highland Winter Road Maintenance Statistics

28th September 2011

The Highland Council is responsible for 4,200 miles (6,700km) of roads. The Council's winter roads maintenance budget for 2011/12 is £4.7 million.

What does the Council use on Highland roads?
The Highland Council purchases 6mm pure rock salt from a quarry in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland. This rock salt is not pre-wetted. It complies with the recommended British Standard for moisture content.

On average 64,000 tonnes of salt per year are used on roads by The Highland Council (this excludes years with extreme highs/lows in salt usage).
annual road salt tonnage used over the last 7 years was:
2004/05 57,233 tonnes
2005/06 57,612 tonnes
2006/07 29,406 tonnes (low due to a mild winter)
2007/08 57,253 tonnes
2008/09 79,575 tonnes
2009/10 77,674 tonnes (longer cold spells than 08/09, salt was restricted by rationing due to a national shortage)
2010/11 69,589 tonnes (salt restricted due to rationing and national shortage)

the Council imports salt by ship from Northern Ireland to 13 harbours throughout the area at Lochaline, Corpach, Kyle of Lochalsh, Broadford, Portree, Dunvegan, Ullapool, Lochinver, Kinlochbervie, Scrabster, Wick, Invergordon and Inverness; and distributes this salt through 41 depots at Grantown, Nairn Park Quarry, Kingussie - TRO, Janetstown, Wick, Melness (Achuvoldrach) Tongue, Strathy, Longman, Cannich, Drumnadrochit, Gorthleck, Fort William Carr's Corner, Arisaig - TRO, Ballachulish - TRO, Invergarry, Strontian, Broadford, Sconser HC, Fairybridge Dunvegan, Conchra - TRO, Alness, Tain, Ardgay Ardchronie, Helmsdale, Durness, Dornoch, Kinlochbervie, Lochinver, Brora, Rogart, Lairg, Greenhill, Gairloch, Dundonnell, Lochcarron, Achiltibuie, Applecross, Ullapool, Torridon, Whinhill, Silverbridge. n.b. TRO = shared salt dump with Trunk Road Operator.

Highland winter maintenance fleet:
The Council has a fleet of 116 road gritters; and 48 pavement gritters (these include Mercedes 4x4; Mercedes 6x6; Mercedes or DAF 6x2). The pavement gritters have mini-ploughs on the front of the vehicles and salt gritters on the rear of the vehicle;