Preparations for winter are well underway across County Durham.
Durham County Council is ready to keep the region’s roads clear and safe with a fleet of 87 gritters and snow blowers all set for the colder weather.
The council has already taken delivery of 42,000 tonnes of salt across its depots to tackle any snow and ice on the county’s priority routes, with thousands of salt bins also replenished across key community locations.
Cllr John Shuttleworth, cabinet member for highways, rural communities and community safety – pictured above with the highways team – said: “We are fully committed to ensuring our roads remain clear and safe throughout the winter months.
“Our teams use advanced forecasting systems and data from our weather stations to carefully monitor conditions and determine the best times for gritting our network.
“Often, our expert drivers are on the road by 4am to keep people moving safely and residents can be assured that we are well prepared for all weather conditions.”
The council grits over 1,060 miles of priority one routes throughout the winter and treats over 200 miles of priority two routes during extended periods of severe weather.
It also works with local contractors who operate gritters in rural communities, which helps the council to access more rural locations.
There are 12 road weather station cameras across the county which also provide updates on road surface conditions, temperatures, wind speed, residual salt levels and humidity, every ten minutes.
Drivers can use these cameras to check road conditions and traffic levels to help plan their journeys.
For more information on the latest gritting routes and updates, road closures and advice on how to prepare for emergencies, visit durham.gov.uk/winterinfo.
