It is all systems go for Staffordshire’s gritters as they are put through their paces ahead of the winter season.
The third week of October traditionally marks the start of Staffordshire County Council’s gritting operations.
Sunday saw the county’s gritters test their routes for the first time this season. Now they are ready to work around the clock to keep Staffordshire’s roads safe, whatever the weather.
Armed with 37 gritters and snowploughs and 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 will be monitored from weather stations across the county and, using this data, Winter Decision Makers will determine when and where to send gritters out.
Typical winter days and nights will see gritters primarily focus on major routes. In prolonged periods of ice and snow, crews will work around the clock to treat other routes across the wider network.
Also primed and raring to go is the county’s hill contractors, who will out across the higher grounds in the Staffordshire Moorlands.
Staffordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport David Williams said: “Our fleet of gritters have been put to the test as they gear up to the winter period and now, they are prepared to deal with any and all weather conditions.
“From now until March, we will be monitoring temperatures and road conditions every day and send out crews when bad weather hits.
“Staffordshire’s drivers can be assured that our capable highways crews will be working around the clock to keep our roads safe. On typical winter days, all major routes will be gritted. In heavy rain or snow, the less major routes will be covered too.”
People can find out more about how the county prepares for winter at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/winter
