Highland Council urges everyone to take extra care due to conditions
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With the current spell of wintry weather forecast to continue for the rest of the week, Highland Council is asking all drivers and pedestrians to be extra careful.
The local authority says generally the road surface temperature needs to rise a little before there is enough free moisture for salt to work.
The council’s economy and infrastructure committee chairman Ken Gowans said: “We are experiencing much colder weather than we could expect and, in many areas, we have seen snowfall followed by a sharp drop in temperatures below minus five degrees. The ability of the salt to become effective is reduced in very cold conditions as salt is ineffective below minus five degrees.
“Our crews are up and out before dawn each day and treating the roads in order of priority, main routes first, secondary routes and so on. The forecast for the next week to 10 days suggests it will remain very cold throughout the day, giving little prospect of a thaw.
"Please drive to the conditions. Black ice can a very real danger at any time of the day. If you pass one of our gritter crews give them a toot or wave of encouragement, they deserve it.”
Details of the gritting routes are available here.
The council's head of roads Tracey Urry said: “We have the longest road network of any council in Scotland and unfortunately it is not possible to treat every road at the same time. That's why we have a priority system to treat the areas in greatest need first. We urge everyone to be extra careful when out and about in these wintry conditions.”
