Surrey County Council has confirmed that its gritters are up and running 24/7 as the winter months approach.
In a statement yesterday, the local authority said that its 38 gritting vehicles will usually cover more than 1,775 miles of priority routes across the county in this period.
The busiest roads are treated both before and during harsh weather, with 10,000 tonnes of salt being used to support the process.
According to the council, an additional two mini gritters are available to treat roads that larger vehicles struggle to access. It said that 1,700 grit bins in the region have also been stocked for use in areas that could have slopes, acute bends, difficult road junctions, and a lot of pedestrians, despite not being included in priority gritting routes.
Maintenance for the winter season tends to start in October and end in March, but the council has highlighted that exact timings can vary based on the weather.
Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Economic Growth said: ‘We’re committed to keeping drivers and our local communities safe and connected here in Surrey and investing in our roads. When temperatures plummet, our gritter drivers across the county are ready and prepared to work around the clock to keep traffic moving on our busiest routes.
‘Our Immediate Response Centre will also continue to support communities 24/7 and we will work closely with the Met Office to monitor weather conditions throughout the season.’
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Photo: © Surrey County Council.
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