Roads update at 8.10am on Friday 10 December 2010

Current situation

All precautionary carriageway routes in the south and east are running black. Some slushy ice remains on northern and western domains. Abandoned cars are still problematic and the police are helping remove vehicles as required.

All secondary routes in southern and eastern areas are running black, with traces of slush present on a few. In the north and east, there has been less opportunity to tackle secondary routes so there are still a few in need of further treatment.

Precautionary footpaths, whilst largely clear, still have some areas of ice and slush present. Other footpaths still need further treatment. Additional resources are mobilised to assist in clearing footpaths (around 280 Council staff, private contractors and community service offenders). SLC footpath gritters will treat the worst affected other footpath areas such as steep hills/accesses to schools and so on until 4pm. Squads will clear and grit footway accessibility routes during normal working hours.

Air temperatures remain well above zero this morning, as are road surface temperatures (RSTs), other than Hamilton which is expected to be a due to a faulty sensor. There will be a rapid thaw today, leading to an increased risk of localised flooding.

The minimum overnight RST was -1C in Lesmahagow (Hamilton showing lower than this but expected to be a faulty reading).

Forecast at 7am

Mostly cloudy this morning with the chance of some patchy light rain from time to time. Similar conditions are expected this afternoon with only occasional cloud breaks.

During this evening and at first tonight, cloud will remain extensive with RSTs staying above zero. However, towards the end of the night, clear spells are likely to become more widespread and RSTs will become marginal where these are prolonged. Confidence in the extent of cloud breaks is low at the moment.

Minimum forecast RST is 0C

Planned action

• 8am-8pm - grit and plough carriageway secondary routes with 20 gms/m2 50/50 rock salt/sand mix (14 gms/m2 Safecote) to continue until running clear. Thereafter treat extreme routes
• 8am-8pm - one loaded gritter to run each patrol route. Risk of localised flooding due to rapid thaw
• 8am-4pm - worst affected footpath areas such as steep hills/accesses to schools and so on to be ploughed and gritted with 20 gms/m2 50/50 rock salt/sand mix. Extra staff to help clear accessibility routes.

Salt stocks

Salt stocks for use in gritting domestic properties and footpaths will be made available to members of the public who can collect it from roads depots between the hours of 10am-4pm daily.

This arrangement is being put in place in an effort to preserve salt stocks - and to combat the growing problem of misuse of grit from bins across South Lanarkshire.

Source : SLC