Gritters kept the county moving (From Basildon Recorder)

Gritters kept the county moving

11:33am Monday 4th March 2013 in News

GRITTING lorries in Essex have covered enough mileage this winter to go seven times round the world, bosses said today.

Around 26,000 tonnes of salt has been spread on the main road network in the county so far this season – around the same weight as 156 blue whales.

Essex County Council distributes its fleet of gritting lorries whenever it is forecast to snow or temperatures are expected to plummet below zero, posing a risk of frost or ice on the roads.

Forty-four specialist teams are currently working to repair potholes across the county caused by the freezing winter.

The authority is investing an additional £35m over the next two years to road repairs.

County Councillor Derrick Louis, cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: “We have experienced another very cold winter, and our staff have been working around the clock to keep our main road network safe. The severe weather will inevitably cause damage to our road network, and we are doing everything we can to repair potholes as quickly as possible.

“This work will intensify over the coming weeks as weather conditions improve, so I ask residents to report potholes to us so they can be investigated.

“Maintaining and improving the condition of our highways network is one of Essex County Council’s top priorities, and we will be investing an additional £35m over the next two years to ensure our roads are kept to the standard that our residents deserve.”

Residents can report potholes by visiting www.essex.gov.uk/highways or by calling 0845 603 7631.