RCTC have proactive plan for ice and snow on our roads this winter
25 January 2013 The Graig Mountain Aberdare
As autumn quickly turns to winter, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council is prepared for freezing weather which could affect our roads this festive season and beyond.
When snow or ice is in the weather forecast for the County Borough, the Council’s Highways team springs into action, implementing its pro-active approach to keeping residents and commuters safely moving on our roads.
The Council operates a 24/7 winter maintenance service from October 1 to April 30, where its highways team maintains 1,250km of the road in the County Borough in preparation for an unexpected visit from Jack Frost.
Rhondda Cynon Taf’s priority carriageway routes are identified in a Precautionary Salting Network – that’s 429km of road treated by 20 dedicated gritting vehicles, manned by the Council’s Out of Hours 24/7 Response Team. A single run of the Network sees between 50 and 70 tonnes of salt spread on the County Borough’s most well-used roads.
Technology installed in the gritting vehicles helps members of the Highways team to navigate each route, and automatically controls how much salt is spread. With the machine programmed to release the amount of salt relative to current conditions, less salt is wasted.
Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member with responsibility for Highways, said: “The Council is reassuring residents that it is once again prepared for what the winter weather might bring, as the Highways team is prepared to implement our pro-active approach for the treatment of roads in snow and freezing conditions.
“At the centre of the Council’s winter maintenance plan is the aim to maintain, or reinstate as quickly as possible, a safe traffic flow for residents and visitors to Rhondda Cynon Taf. This ensures motorists experience as little disruption as possible on our roads.
“We have a dedicated workforce operating the Council’s 24/7 plan. Much of this emergency work by dedicated staff can take place in the middle of the night when the majority of residents in the County Borough are asleep. I’d like to thank those staff for their continued, around-the-clock dedication throughout the winter, with their efforts benefitting us all.”
Residents are reminded that, during inclement weather, it is important that cars are parked safely – leaving enough room for gritting vehicles to pass.
Also, grit bins are in place and regularly topped up to treat public highways and footpaths – but are not intended for use on personal driveways. Where possible, residents should ensure that elderly and less mobile residents are given priority access to the grit bins.
