Solihull gets prepared for Winter

Solihull Council will be using nine new gritting lorries to keep the borough’s main roads safe and free from ice during the Winter months.

Balfour Beatty has been appointed as the main contractor to provide the gritting trucks and operatives on behalf of Solihull Council. Their trucks are equipped with tracking equipment and will provide a more even distribution of rock salt when in use.

Councillor Ted Richards OBE, Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways, said “I am delighted that we will be using new gritting trucks equipped with the latest technology to keep our roads safe over winter.

“Motorists’ safety is a priority for the Council and we are taking the appropriate steps to ensure that daily life can carry on as normal during freezing temperatures.

“I would, however, still like to remind motorists to take extra when out and about during cold months.”

During the coldest months of the year, there are 4,500 tonnes of rock salt kept in stock at all times. There are nine set gritting routes that cover 560km of Solihull’s roads, which is 56% of the total roads in the borough.

To keep up-to-date with when the crews will be out gritting the road, follow Solihull Council on Twitter @SolihullCouncil and look out for the hashtag #WMGrit.

Further information about Solihull Council’s Winter Plan, including gritting routes, can be found on their website: http://www.solihull.gov.uk/Portals/0/ParkingTravelRoads/Winter_Plan.pdf

Read more: http://www.solihull.gov.uk/news/ArtMID/820/ArticleID/1886/Getting-Prepared-For-Winter

Photo l-r: Ashley Prior (Head of Highways, Solihull Council), Megan Bloxham (from Balfour Beatty), Mark O’Connell (Group Leader, Highway Projects), Councillor Ted Richards OBE (Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways).