BEAR Scotland and its popular team of gritters are geared up and ready to tackle winter conditions in the South East of Scotland as temperatures decline.
A fleet of 47 winter vehicles – including multiple 32-tonne eight-wheeler spreaders – will be on hand as Transport Scotland’s operating company prepares to treat trunk roads across the area.
A mammoth 25,000 tonnes of salt has been set aside for some of the largest spreaders in the UK – including ‘Snow Connery’ and ‘Licence to Chill’ – which will keep the 505km trunk route network as clear as possible this winter.
Over 90 operatives will be working throughout the colder months ahead to keep roads moving. Many of these operatives will be in frontline vehicles conducting precautionary treatments to prevent ice forming. These treatments see them spread pre-wetted salt on routes that are expected to experience low temperatures. Other operatives will be in patrol vehicles, monitoring conditions and carrying out any required treatments.
The four major bridges – Queensferry Crossing, Forth Road Bridge, Clackmannanshire Bridge and Kincardine Bridge – will be treated with potassium acetate de-icer by a dedicated tanker sprayer, in order to avoid salt causing corrosion in the bridges’ steelwork.
Central to BEAR Scotland’s winter strategy is its 24/7 network hub – a control room team which analyses detailed weather forecasts and road temperatures to ensure treatments are carried out as necessary.
Andy Thompson, BEAR Scotland’s South East operating Company Representative, said: “Our team will be working tirelessly throughout the winter period to keep Scotland’s key routes operating.
“Our main priority is always to ensure roads are as safe as possible for motorists to travel on, and our dedicated team will be doing all they can in the months ahead to make that happen.
“It’s important that road users play their part, too. Now is the time to ensure vehicles are well maintained. And as we head into winter, it’s essential that anyone travelling pays close attention to media coverage and weather forecasts to allow for sufficient planning and time for their journeys.”
Members of the public can live track gritters on the trunk road network using Transport Scotland’s online ‘trunk road gritter tracker’. It displays the current location of gritters and a trail with an age range for where gritters have previously passed along trunk routes across Scotland.
Last year BEAR Scotland used over 17,500 tonnes of salt and over 2,750 individual winter actions were undertaken.
The winter service period will typically run from 1 October to 15 May each year and could be extended beyond these dates should conditions dictate.
Winter Portal 
Planned Works 
Report a Defect