As snow is being predicted over the weekend, with road temperatures also predicted to be freezing, the council’s gritting crews will be in operation.
As road surface temperatures are predicted to be freezing tonight, around 200 miles of priority routes will be salted overnight. Further gritting and potential snow clearance will then possibly take place over the weekend, with the precise work dependent on forecasts at that time, with around the clock operations always part of the council’s winter gritting plans if needed. Any settled snow is not expected to stay for very long, with gritting patterns necessarily adapting to events and remaining on standby for the duration of the winter.
Councillor Nicholas Bennett J.P., Executive Councillor for Transport, Highways and Road Safety said, “Our gritting crews have already been in action this winter when frost or ice has been forecast and as always, are ready to respond according to the forecasted weather conditions. Whilst our work will help road users, drivers and riders will need to adapt their driver according to the conditions ready to deal with icy conditions and the like, particularly on untreated road surfaces. We do want to thank Snow Friends residents who again are on standby - council teams will never be able to be in all places and clearing snow from residential streets helps us all as well.”
The council’s aim during bad weather, is to keep traffic moving around the borough. To assist with this, detailed forecasts help predict when frost, ice or snow is likely so the council’s gritting and snow clearance crews can respond accordingly. However, it’s impossible to treat all 500 miles of roads and over 800 miles of pavements, so the main routes are prioritised.
These priority routes are roads that are regularly used and serve main bus routes for instance, also approaches to hospitals, fire, police and ambulance stations including steep routes. Whilst it is not expected on this occasion, in the event of sustained snow, street cleaning teams will focus on clearing snow for pedestrians in areas of high footfall, transferring roles and clearing snow from pavements near the main shopping centres, schools, bus and train stations.
Snow Friends help out too of course, and concentrate on clearing the local, residential roads so more of the borough is free of snow and ice. During the season, follow @BromleySnow for updates on Twitter or visit our website www.bromley.gov.uk/winter.
Ends
Notes to editors:
The A21 and part of the A232 (West Wickham to Locksbottom) are maintained by Transport for London (TfL). Consequently, TfL are responsible for gritting these roads, which form part of Red Route.
For media enquiries, please contact Andrew Rogers, Head of Public Affairs, on 020 8461 7670 or email Andrew.Rogers@bromley.gov.uk.