With more snow and ice forecast, Wiltshire Council’s gritting team will be back in action tonight.
The 24-strong fleet of gritters helps make driving on hundreds of miles of roads across the county safer for motorists.
Primary routes are those that carry the highest amount of traffic and are essential for emergency services. They account for around 750 miles of road – about 25 per cent of all the roads in the county.
Secondary routes include less frequently travelled roads and may not receive attention unless conditions persist.
Last winter, the crews were deployed 50 times and spread 6,500 tonnes of salt on the primary routes across Wiltshire.
Salt is usually spread on roads in the late evening and early morning as these are the most likely times that frost and ice affect road surfaces.
Cllr Martin Smith, Cabinet Member for Highways, said, “Our fleet of 24 gritters and drivers are always on standby, ready to treat primary routes across Wiltshire and help keep our roads safe throughout the colder months.
“I want to thank our incredible gritting crews who work tirelessly, often through the night, to keep Wiltshire’s roads safe during the winter months.
“While our teams are fully prepared, we still urge all drivers to take extra care on the roads during cold and icy conditions. Please allow extra time for journeys and drive to the conditions to help keep everyone safe.
I’d also urge people to keep an eye on our social media channels and sign to our newsletters, as these will help our residents to stay up-to-date with the latest situation in the event of bad weather.”
As well as gritting the roads, the council maintains 1,600 salt bins located throughout the county, which are available for both residents and the travelling public for use on public roads and footpaths.
