Transport Scotland’s operating company, BEAR Scotland, is ready and prepared to keep Trunk Roads across the north west of Scotland safe during low temperatures and winter weather.
BEAR Scotland’s winter fleet of 59 vehicles, including 29 frontline spreaders and 15 patrol spreaders, will be on hand for the duration of the winter period to treat the 1,422km of Trunk Roads in the area.
An enormous 35,000 tonnes of salt has been distributed to the 13 depots ahead of being loaded into some of the UK’s largest spreaders including ‘Gritallica’ and ‘Mr Plow’.
Over 100 operatives will be working throughout the colder months ahead to keep roads moving. Many of these operatives will be in the frontline vehicles responsible for precautionary treatments, spreading pre-wetted salt onto roads where low temperatures are forecast to prevent ice forming. Other operatives will be in patrol vehicles, monitoring conditions and carrying out reactive salting as required, as well as spraying footways with brine to keep them free from ice.
Central to BEAR Scotland’s winter strategy is its 24/7 network hub control room, and its dedicated winter team which analyses detailed weather forecasts and road temperatures to ensure treatments are carried out as necessary. The team is also ready to monitor and respond to severe weather impacts such as flooding, high winds, and landslips.
Iain Murray, BEAR Scotland’s Managing Director, said: “Our team will be working tirelessly throughout the winter period to keep Scotland’s key routes operating.
“Our main priority is always to ensure roads are as safe as possible for motorists to travel on, and our dedicated team will be doing all they can in the months ahead to make that happen.
“It’s important that road users play their part too. Now is the time to ensure vehicles are well maintained. As we head into winter, it’s essential that anyone travelling pays close attention to traffic updates and weather forecasts to allow for sufficient planning and time for their journeys.”
Members of the public can live-track gritters on the trunk road network using Transport Scotland’s online ‘trunk road gritter tracker’. It displays the current location of gritters and where they have recently treated throughout Scotland.
Real time traffic information is available from Traffic Scotland on: www.trafficscotland.org or X – @trafficscotland.
Regular updates are posted on: www.bearscot.com and X – @NWtrunkRoads.
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