Oxfordshire County Council has started salting roads across central and southern Oxfordshire, UK, on 14 March 2026 to keep drivers safe during a cold spell. The council began the work at 19:00 to prevent ice from forming as temperatures are expected to drop below freezing.
Forecasters have predicted that clear skies and clear spells will cause road surface temperatures to fall below zero overnight. According to Oxfordshire County Council, these conditions create a high risk of icy patches on the county’s main routes.
The council focuses its winter maintenance on about 43 per cent of the local road network, including busy transport routes and roads leading to hospitals and fire stations. This work is part of a standard winter plan that usually runs from 1 November to 31 March each year.
Although the official salting season typically ends in late March, council officials say they can extend the service if the weather stays cold. The goal of the early evening salting is to ensure that major roads remain clear for commuters and emergency services through the night and into the morning.
