It’s that time of year again – the nights are drawing in; winter is in the air and Caerphilly County Borough Council’s gritters continue to help to keep residents on the move.
The Council has 13 gritters available to use, all of which can be fitted with a snow plough if needed and around 9,000 tonnes of rock salt in stock ready to treat roads during the frosty nights.
All main salt vehicles are fitted with the latest technology in salt distribution, including trackers and salt monitoring systems, which allow the Council to programme the vehicles accurately, depending on the route and weather conditions. This results in a more effective and efficient use of the salt supplies, reducing costs and the environmental impact that the salt has on our County Borough.
The Council prioritises key roads across the county borough, including most bus routes and routes to emergency service premises, key medical facilities and public facilities in order to ensure the main highways network can function during inclement weather. These routes alone cover 301 miles of road.
There are currently over 900 grit salt bins placed at central locations so that residents can spread rock salt onto the highway and pedestrian areas if needed.
Cllr. Jamie Pritchard, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Property said: ““I’d like to thank all those in the gritting crews who help keep our roads moving during the winter months.
Throughout the holiday period, whilst many of us are asleep in beds, often at weekends, and even over the Christmas and New Year our gritting teams will be on standby, ready to head out in all weathers to help keep us safe on the roads.
It is not possible to treat every road and drivers should always take particular care at this time of year – don’t assume a road has been treated or is frost free. It can take up to ten times longer to stop in icy conditions – please drive carefully and think of others.”
