Twenty-seven brand new gritters to join Norfolk's fleet

Twenty-seven brand new gritters will be taking to the roads for the first time later this winter in a £3,238,000 boost to the annual push to help keep Norfolk moving safely during the winter months.

The news comes as crews completed their first gritting runs of the season at the weekend, treating routes in the west, inland north and south and east coast areas of the county.

Norfolk's fleet of 58 winter vehicles treat 2,200 miles of roads on each full 3-hour gritting run. All A and B-class roads and some C-class roads are treated with a focus on commuter and major bus routes and as far as is possible one route into all villages. The A11 and A47 are gritted by National Highways.

Cllr Graham Plant, Cabinet Member for Highways, Infrastructure and Transport, said: "Our salt domes are fully stocked, crews are ready to go, and our experienced highway team are keeping a close eye on weather sensors and detailed specialist forecasts that that help inform where and when gritting will be taking place.

"To help keep people moving around safely this winter, however they choose to travel, we'll again be providing information and advice on social media with the hashtag #NorfolkWinter."

In addition to the 49 gritting routes, a number of pedestrian areas and main pavements are treated in the centre of Norwich, Great Yarmouth and King's Lynn, and more than 2000 grit bins are available around the county for people to use on roads, pavements and cycle paths.

Find more information via www.norfolk.gov.uk/winter

Additional information

Norfolk spends an average of £3.2m each year keeping highways moving over the winter.

The average cost of each full gritting run is around £49,000.

Approximately 15,000 tonnes of salt is held in salt barns across the county, which will be restocked regularly throughout the winter season.