Winter Safety Service Ready Now Fully Operational

Northern Ireland's Winter Safety Service is fully operational and ready to keep people moving, the Department for Infrastructure has announced.

Around 300 staff and 130 gritters are available to salt main roads to keep traffic moving safely and freely. Twelve specialist snow blowers are also available to be deployed if required.

Colin Sykes, Director of Road Asset Maintenance, said: "Every year our winter service operation remains in place from October to April to ensure 7,000 kilometres of the road network on the salting schedule remain open. With snow and ice forecast for this week and some disruption on our roads possible, staff are ready to be deployed as necessary.

"We have around 74,000 tonnes of salt in stock and in addition over 5,500 salt bins and 58,000 grit piles are also available for use by the public on a self-help basis on selected routes not included on the salting schedule."

Continuing Mr Sykes said: "Despite our best efforts it is important to remember that we cannot guarantee ice free roads even after salting. We all need to be mindful of the changing conditions and adjust the way we drive, ride or cycle to ensure it is appropriate for the conditions. The best advice is in the Highway Code, take extra care even if roads have been salted, be prepared for road conditions changing over short distances and take care when overtaking gritters."