Gritters get a summer run out
Monday, 18 July 2022
If you see a gritter out on the Central Bedfordshire roads today, don’t worry the heat hasn’t sent you crazy and we’re not expecting snow.
But we are out and about helping to keep our roads safe and moving.
Usually, Central Bedfordshire Council’s fleet of gritters can be seen keeping the roads safe from snow and ice in the colder months, but this week it’s the extreme heatwave that has seen their drivers pick up the keys to the gritters again.
Temperatures in our area are predicted to reach a high of over 40C this week and this could affect the condition of the road surface. When road temperatures become too hot with the surface exceeding 50C they can begin to melt and cause damage. By spreading a light dusting of crushed stone, instead of salt, it helps soak up excess tar and reduces the likelihood of road surfaces melting.
Cllr Ian Dalgarno, Executive Member for Community Service, said:
Our road surfaces are resilient, but the temperatures predicted are unprecedented in this country. Highly used routes can begin to suffer when the temperatures are high for a long period of time. By proactively using our fleet of highways gritters to protect our roads this will aim to reduce the extremely high road surface temperatures and keep the road network safe and moving.
Residents can report any highways issues via FixMyStreet.