Posted on Monday 18th November 2024
Staffordshire’s gritting crews will be rolling out for the first time this season, as temperatures across the county have dropped.
The county council’s fleet of 38 gritters will be in action tonight, as road surface temperatures are due to fall to freezing and below, with sleet and snow expected across higher ground.
Also in action will be the county’s hill contractors, who go out across the higher grounds in the Staffordshire Moorlands.
Armed more than 20,000 tonnes of salt stockpiled, highways crews are equipped to battle any adverse weather conditions coming Staffordshire’s way.
Temperatures and road conditions across the network are monitored from weather stations across the county, and a team of winter decision makers make the call on whether to roll out the gritters.
On routine winter days and nights gritting crews will be focusing on the major routes and extending to the wider network in prolonged ice and snow conditions.
Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Strategic Highways Mark Deaville said: “Our crews monitor the weather daily, and with temperatures dropping below zero for the first time this season, it’s all systems go for our gritting crews. Our gritters were put through their paces by crews back in October ready for the winter season, so we are well prepared.
“This will be the first time this season that they’ve rolled out across the county, so will really be great practice for when the really bad weather hits. When it does, we will be pulling out all the stops to ensure our primary and secondary routes are treated across the network.
“Regardless of whether a road has been gritted, in icy and snowy conditions motorists need to slow down, take extra care and allow more time for their journeys.”