A fleet of gritters has been primed and is ready to roll into action to keep our county’s roads clear this winter.
With 10,000 tonnes of salt stored for the season, and 23 gritters and 42 drivers on standby 24/7, East Sussex Highways is ready to react when snow is forecast, or the road surface temperature falls near to or below freezing.
Preparations for the winter service starts months in advance – ensuring gritters and ploughs are ready to go, and every member of the team knows their role.
The gritters are all named by local school children, and names this year include ‘007: Licence to Clear’. They treat all A and B roads, and some C roads – a total of 42 per cent of all roads in East Sussex.
Conservative councillor Claire Dowling, East Sussex County Council’s lead member for transport and environment, said:
“Our highways team is ready to spring into action and make sure our roads remain clear during cold weather. Snow and ice can bring the county to a standstill and pose a danger to drivers, so it’s vital that we are ready to deal with any weather the season brings.”
The latest weather forecasting technology is used to decide when roads need to be gritted and decisions are made once a day, or more often if the weather is severe.
