Gritters ready to roll as more snow forecast

Although it’s nearly May, crews have been out gritting every night this week to keep traffic moving during a further period of freezing conditions.

The Met Office has now issued a yellow warning of snow for Burnley, Pendle and the Ribble Valley, and are warning of potential disruption due to the possibility of snow settling in the early hours of Friday morning, particularly on higher ground.

Martin Dunwell, countywide highways manager, said: “The cold snap we’ve experienced this week has kept our gritting teams busy, and we’re well-prepared to deal with whatever the weather brings tonight.

“Our crews are due to go out this evening to begin gritting, and will stay on duty to patrol, grit, and if necessary plough as the wintry showers come through overnight.

“We would ask drivers to be aware of the potential for icy conditions overnight and on Friday morning.

“Even when a road has been gritted, it can remain icy until the movement of traffic has worked the salt in and made it take effect, so it’s vital to drive according to the conditions and consider that there could be icy patches.

“If you can see that the conditions are icy, it’s worth considering whether your journey is essential.”

Lancashire County Council has a fleet of 49 frontline gritters which can treat the 1,500 miles of the county council’s priority road network within around four hours, but may take longer in severe conditions.