Winter is coming… But the fleet of gritters making sure the roads of Oxfordshire are ice-free are ready – thanks to Ryebridge.
The company has now handed over the new saltbarn at Deddington Highways Depot near Banbury, and the first deliveries of grit are being brought in over the coming weeks.
Contracts manager Ferdie Boaitey was on the ground overseeing the project from start to finish, ensuring it was completed before the start of this year’s winter season.
He explained why Oxfordshire County Council decided to build the facility: “Beforehand they had a retaining block around the site, which was open to the elements, and they kept their salt there.
“When they’re spreading the salt, they have to set it at around 12 grams per meter, but if it’s kept dry they only have to set it at eight grams, which gives them quite a lot of savings, so they decided in invest in a covered salt barn.”
With the site having experienced weeks of heavy rainfall, the practicalities are immediately obvious.
Ferdie elaborated on what the job entailed: “We came in, removed the existing foundations, stabilised the ground, levelled it off and then put in some bases and slab. We had a contractor design and install a steel frame for us, and another company precast the retaining wall units. They we added a pitch roof, timber cladding and purlins, and then there were a bit of external works. We started the first week in June and were done at the end of September.”
The timeframe was very close to the start of the gritting season, and Ryebridge would have faced penalties if they’d overrun, as Oxfordshire Highways are spending the whole of October filling it up with close to 3,000 pounds of salt, more than enough for next winter’s demands, but it came in on time and without any issues.
Ferdie said the grit is delivered first thing in the morning, and then again later in the afternoon: “Once they’ve had the first fill they just top it up, so won’t be shunting it right to the back.
“When they’re loading, the gritters will come up to the front of the barn.”
Ryebridge also installed an outside gantry and a steam-washer to keep the gritters clean, the salt being extremely corrosive, and removed old offices and levelled off a site for extra parking.
Ferdie added: “The challenge here was doing the construction in an operational yard. So there was lots of work out of hours and at weekends, but it’s all about planning your work, and if you know something is going to be disruptive you give lots of notice.
“We handed over yesterday and I had a walk around the site with the depot manager and he was happy with the work.”
