GRITTERS have been out across Worcestershire spreading crushed stone to help prevent road surfaces from melting during the current heatwave.
When temperatures exceed 30C for prolonged periods, road surfaces can become vulnerable to melting.
With the county currently under a red weather warning, Worcestershire County Council has confirmed gritters have already been deployed to treat roads showing signs of heat stress.
Coun Tom Wells, cabinet member with responsibility for highways and transport at Worcestershire County Council, said: “We know that gritters are something our residents associate with winter, snow and ice.
“During periods of extreme heat, however, gritting vehicles can also play an important role in protecting the highway network.
“The vehicles spread a light dusting of crushed stone, rather than traditional salt, which helps absorb excess bitumen and reduces the risk of road surfaces melting by reflecting more of the sun’s rays.
“Our teams are doing everything they can during this heatwave to keep the county’s roads safe for motorists and help limit the damage that high temperatures can cause to road surfaces.”
Worcestershire County Council has adjusted its highways operations to prioritise safety for both the public and the workforce during this period of extreme heat.
Most planned maintenance works will be temporarily paused during the hottest parts of the day, while essential safety-critical activities, including urgent defect repairs and network safety works, will continue.
Certain scheduled inspection activities will also be temporarily suspended, allowing teams to focus on responding quickly to any heat-related issues on the network.
While road temperatures are being closely monitored, Worcestershire County Council is asking residents to visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/reportit to report any issues.
