20 new state-of-the-art gritters take to SW roads this winter

Twenty new state-of-the-art gritters will be patrolling the South West’s motorways and major A roads this winter as part of a multi-million-pound investment to help keep traffic moving in severe weather.

The new gritters will improve safety for drivers and workers due to the vehicles’ improved technology, set-up and enhanced visibility.

They also treat the roads at a maximum of 50mph – 10mph faster than earlier models.

The addition of 20 new gritters takes Highways England’s fleet of winter service vehicles to 60 in the South West.

The gritters will cover the A38 from Ivybridge to Exeter, the M5 from Exeter to Gloucester, the M4 from the Prince of Wales Bridge (junction 22) to Swindon (junction 15) and the M32, M48 and M49 in Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

They will be based at depots in Sowton (Exeter), Pridamsleigh (near Buckfastleigh, Devon), Chelston (near Wellington, Somerset), Edithmead (near Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset), Almondsbury (South Gloucestershire), Tormarton (near junction 18 of the M4, South Gloucestershire) and Bamfurlong (near Cheltenham).

A total of 93 new gritters will be deployed across England.

Jane Wilkins, Highways England’s winter fleet manager, said: “The latest vehicles contain innovative technology which includes being able to pre-programme the gritters with information specific to each gritting route.

“This enables salt to be spread onto the road automatically, considering any specific requirements for bridges, landscape and other road features allowing drivers to give their full attention to driving at all times.

“When the wintry weather does arrive, our 1,300 specially-trained gritter drivers will be ready to work around the clock to keep traffic moving.”

To help keep drivers on the move this winter, Highways England has 535 gritters available which have all gone through a summer service, 127 depots based at strategic points across the network and 23 snow blowers which can remove up to 2,500 tonnes of snow per hour, while it will be storing over 280,000 tonnes of salt.