Island Roads – the Island’s PFI contractor – is responsible for maintaining a safe highway network, this includes keeping footways and the carriageways clear of obstructions, snow and ice wherever possible under their winter maintenance programme.
To help Island Roads manage their teams to provide a responsive and efficient service, their fleet is fitted with GPS which allows them to monitor progress and record the treatments applied to the network.
Island Roads’ staff are ready around the clock, 24 hours a day, to grit the Island’s roads network as and when conditions warrant it.
Gritting Routes
These routes may be subject to change when traffic diversions are in place.
Find out when gritting is taking place by following us on Twitter @IslandEcho.
Please note: These routes may be subject to change when traffic diversions are in place.
6 Gritting Areas
There are 6 gritting route areas, which can be viewed in more detail by clicking the links below.
Area 1 – Newport, East Cowes, Whippingham, Wootton, Havenstreet, Binstead, Ryde
Area 2 – Newport, Arreton, Ashey, Brading, Seaview, St Helens, Bembridge
Area 3 – Newport, Blackwater, Rookley, Godshill, Shanklin, Lake, Sandown, Newchurch, Arreton
Area 5 – Newport, Carisbrooke, Calbourne, Freshwater Bay, Brook, Brighstone, Shorwell
Winter Maintenance Headquarters
Island Roads’ Stag Lane depot is home to their 5 frontline gritters, back-up and specialist vehicles as well as the Island’s road salt supply which, under the Highways PFI, will be well in excess of that needed to cope with an average winter.
There are around 50 members of staff that are based at Stay Lane which also houses their gully-emptying and street cleansing teams and vehicles.
Gritting Vehicles
Their state-of-the-art gritters are fitted with ‘pre-wet’ technology which sprays salt with a brine solution prior to spreading.
The reason for this is to limit salt drifting on to grass verges or hedges and ensures the salt sticks to the road.
Their drivers undertake dry runs prior to the winter season to familiarise themselves with their routes before the cold weather sets in.
This page was last updated, and information was correct, as of 3rd November 2020.
