News & Media > Highway Services
07:01:2010
Highways teams working flat out to combat big freeze
In Northamptonshire, MGWSP (the JV between May Gurney and WSP) is working round the clock to keep routes in the county clear of snow and ice.
On every salting trip, 27 gritting vehicles cover more than 1,200 miles - nearly half the county’s entire road network. Salt stocks are good and the county council and MGWSP are prepared for continuing adverse weather and are confident supplies will be adequate.
All resources are being used and footpaths are being salted by hand where possible. Footways are treated in a priority order with town centre streets first priority and the busiest suburb to town footways second priority. Crews are also restocking salt bins for the public to use.
Tony Ciaburro, Northamptonshire’s corporate director of environment, growth & commissioning, said: “It is pleasing to hear that most people agree that the county council has done a good job. Given the traditional bashing we normally get, right or wrong, this is a fantastic result. Well done to all concerned.”
In Essex, May Gurney provides winter maintenance for approximately 1,500 km of roads in the south and west of the county, using a squadron of 28 gritters. So far this winter the gritting routes have been treated more than 40 times using in excess of 6,000t of rock salt.
Councillor Norman Hume, cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: "Gritting crews have done exceptionally well in extreme winter conditions for the second time in 12 months.
“I am pleased with how well prepared our dedicated winter service has been and how well it has been operating since the icy conditions arrived in Essex.”
Click here to read a Times Online news report about the ‘salt emergency’, including comments by Philip Fellowes-Prynne, May Gurney chief executive.
Click here to read more about May Gurney’s work in partnership with its local authority clients.
News archive
Public Sector
Regulated Sector
Other News
