Meath public told to ‘take caution and be responsible’ as Winter gritting plan revealed
As temperatures begin to drop, Meath County Council has outlined its Winter Gritting Programme for 2025–2026, detailing how the county prepares its roads for frost, ice and severe weather.
The council operates a fleet of 11 dedicated spreaders that cover a strategic network of 800km of Priority 1 and Priority 2 roads, with teams working through the night whenever freezing conditions are forecast.
From the middle of October until the end of April, road conditions are monitored around the clock using detailed forecasts from Met Éireann, roadside weather stations and ice-prediction software.
The council also has 11 lorry-mounted snow ploughs available for use during periods of heavy snow or sleet.
Priority 1 routes include all National Primary and National Secondary roads within Meath, and these are treated during all forecasted weather events.
Priority 2 routes include regional roads, which are treated as part of the normal winter service, although interruptions may occur during severe or prolonged weather conditions.
Treatment of both route types involves a mobilisation time of one hour and a treatment time of approximately two hours.
Motorways such as the M1, M2, M3 and M4 are treated by private operators, while funding for the national road network is provided by Transport Infrastructure Ireland.
In Meath, approximately 80pc of roads are not routinely salted. Ireland also experiences a high number of marginal nights with temperatures close to zero, making frost more difficult to predict accurately.
Meanwhile, it can take up to three hours to salt a route, meaning any journey may start or end on an untreated section. Heavy rain can also wash away salt before temperatures fall below freezing, causing surfaces to refreeze.
According to the local authority, “limited resources” from the council’s own maintenance budget fund the salting of regional routes, and other roads may only be treated in exceptional circumstances and on a case-by-case basis.
Despite the extensive operation, the council is advising the public to “take caution and be responsible” while driving on the roads today as frost and ice are expected.
“Keep a sharp lookout for pedestrians, cyclists and other vulnerable road users,” they said on social media.
“Manoeuvre gently and avoid harsh braking, acceleration or steering as these can induce a skid. Use the highest gear possible to reduce the engine revs as this will help avoid wheel spin.”
“When travelling downhill, especially through a series of bends, select a low gear as early as possible and allow your speed to reduce using the brake pedal gently.”