Gritters on roads in Ross-shire as temperature set to drop ‘significantly’
ROSS-SHIRE roads being maintained by Highland Council are being treated due to a “significant” drop in temperature forecast for the afternoon.
The local authority’s morning report says routes are being treated today according to its agreed priorities and bearing in mind the temperature is forecasted to drop.
Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh: No issues. All routes currently being treated. Temperature forecasted to drop significantly later in the afternoon.
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Ross and Cromarty East: Positive road and air temperatures at 6am but a light precautionary treatment being applied to all Priority 1 and 2 roads due to a forecasted dip in temperatures at daylight. No issues.
The council makes clear its report is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free “and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling”.
Maps of the Council’s gritting routes by priority and policy are available online at www.highland.gov.uk/gritting
The council meanwhile has invested in six new winter gritting vehicles to replace some of the ageing fleet. Three vehicles have been delivered, with another three to be delivered shortly.
The vehicles, funded from the council’s fleet capital budget, will replace ageing winter maintenance gritters.
Chair of the economy and infrastructure committee, Councillor Ken Gowans, said: “The new vehicles represent an investment of approximately £1m for our winter fleet. Modernising our fleet by buying the new vehicles is an investment that will help us provide our communities with an efficient and reliable service over the coming winter months.
“These new top-of-the range vehicles have all the equipment to make them as efficient as possible when carrying out the work.”
He added: “The first significant winter weather of the season last week affected communities across the Highlands. The new fleet of snow ploughs will have an important role in making sure we are able to provide our communities with the best service we can within the resources available.”
The vehicles are being allocated as follows:
1 for the Inverness area
2 for the Isle of Skye
1 to Fort William (awaiting delivery)
2 to Badenoch & Strathspey (awaiting delivery)
