WORCESTERSHIRE County Council is marking the official end of a successful winter gritting season and turning its focus to the start of the annual surface dressing programme to maintain and improve the county’s roads.
In total, the Council’s Highways team deployed more than 5,000 tonnes of salt to keep Worcestershire’s road network safe and moving between October 2025 and April 2026.
Operations were supported by six strategically located depots and seven remotely monitored weather stations.
Although the winter wasn’t especially severe, the dedicated efforts of both County Council staff and contractor Ringway ensured roads remained in safe condition for all users.
A spokesperson for the Highways team said: “While it hasn’t been the harshest of winters, our crews have worked tirelessly, sometimes around the clock, to make sure Worcestershire’s roads remained safe.
“We are grateful to all involved, especially those who take on winter duties in addition to their regular responsibilities. The positive feedback we receive from road users across the county reflects how much their work is appreciated.”
With the winter service now stood down, attention turns to the annual surface dressing programme which resumes after a seasonal pause.
Surface dressing is a preventative maintenance treatment that involves spraying roads with bitumen, followed by stone chippings that are rolled in to seal the surface.
It’s a quick and cost-effective method that can extend the life of a road by up to 10 years, while improving skid resistance and helping prevent potholes.
Signs will be displayed on roads in advance of any surface dressing activity and the programme may be subject to change depending on weather conditions.
Visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/surfacedressing for more information.
