Nottinghamshire County Council says its gritting teams have been working continuously through the latest freezing spell, as temperatures dropped well below zero and snow showers affected parts of the county.
The authority said it had been a “busy” period for its highway teams, with gritting runs carried out at 6pm and midnight on the previous day to respond to rapidly changing temperatures and snowfall.
Additional runs were carried out again at 7am this morning by Via East Midlands, which delivers highways services on behalf of the council.
Further overnight action is planned, with road surface temperatures forecast to fall as low as minus 6.1 degrees this evening. The council said gritting teams will be deployed on main routes first, followed by snow routes, from 6.30pm onwards. Freezing conditions are expected to begin from around 3pm.
In an update, Nottinghamshire County Council emphasised that the presence of snow or ice on a road does not necessarily mean it has not been treated.
Officers said gritting is only the first stage of the de-icing process and relies heavily on traffic to be fully effective.
The council said that while grit lowers the freezing point of water, it does not instantly melt ice.
Instead, vehicles passing over treated roads help spread the salt, break down compacted snow and allow a saline solution to form. When traffic levels are low, particularly overnight or on quieter routes, roads can remain icy for longer periods even after treatment.
Residents are also being reminded that during heavier snowfall, snow can accumulate on treated roads faster than the salt can dissolve and take effect. This can make it appear as though a road has not been gritted when it has, in fact, already been treated.
Motorists are being urged to take extra care while travelling during the cold spell, allow extra time for journeys and remain cautious even on main roads that are part of the county’s gritting network.
