Dorset’s gritting crews gear up for the weekend

As temperatures

fall, and with rain and sleet predicted across the county, Dorset County

Council’s highways crews will be working through the night, to keep

main roads passable.

Crews have already been working throughout

the day to treat a number of routes into rural communities and link them

to the salted road network.

Gritting teams will be out at 3pm salting the main network ready for sub-zero temperatures early this evening.

Between

8pm and 2am rain and snow showers are predicted. As they will be

falling onto frozen surfaces, causing widespread ice, extreme care

should be taken. Motorists are advised to avoid driving unless

absolutely necessary.

Crews will be out again at 4am to treat roads following the rain, to help reduce the risk of ice tomorrow (Saturday) morning.

The

county council has refilled a number of parish grit bins, and supplied

salt to district and town councils to treat selected pavements and town

centres.

Over the weekend we will concentrate on keeping the main

road networks and community links clear, which should make access to

schools easier next week.

Temperatures tomorrow are set to rise

slightly with a strong possibility of rain. Temperatures are then set to

drop during Saturday evening/Sunday morning to -4º and will remain very

cold, at around freezing point.

Rural roads will remain covered with snow and ice, and extreme caution should be taken when travelling.