GRITTERS could be making a surprise return to Warwickshire’s roads this week – not because of snow but to sprinkle their special heat-combating dust.
Warwickshire County Council’s (WCC) gritters are poised ready to address the potential risks to the carriageways as temperatures are expected to hit over 30C this weekend and into next week.
Road surfaces can begin to melt if their temperatures exceed 50C. This begins to happen on well-used routes in particular when the air temperature reaches around 30C.
As a result, WCC is already predicting challenges to the county’s road network and has its fleet of gritters on standby to spread a light-dusting of stone dust over the roads to soak up excess tar and minimise the chances of the road surfaces melting.
This proactive work aims to help reduce the potential damage high temperatures can inflict on the roads and keep them safe, limiting disruption to the network.
And while road temperatures will be monitored closely by WCC over the coming days, residents are urged to play their part by reporting any issues on the website www.warwickshire.gov.uk/reporthighwayproblem
Coun Wallace Redford, WCC’s spokesperson for transport and planning, said: “Our gritting fleet do a fantastic job keeping Warwickshire’s residents safe and the network running throughout the winter months.
“Many residents may be surprised to see them out at the height of summer, but their work at this time of year, preventing costly damage to the roads of Warwickshire is no less important than their cold-weather work and all contributes to ensuring our residents are supported through excellent transport infrastructure”.
All incidences of stone dust being used on roads will be accompanied by roadside signage making motorists aware.
