COUNCIL gritters have treated more than 19,000km of roads across the borough this winter, as they plan to head out again during the recent cold snap.

At the frontline during freezing temperatures, council gritting crews went on more than 40 runs to spread salt on roads over winter, using over 1,800 tonnes of salt. 

With more than 1,700 tonnes of salt left in the barn, the Wigan Council confirmed that it is well prepared to keep the roads moving as a yellow warning for snow has been put in place for the borough.

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As the council cannot grit the entire road network, routes are "chosen strategically" to keep the most important ones open, including main roads, bus routes and access to emergency service locations.

Experienced officers use a network of “sensors” that are spread around the borough to supplement data from local and regional weather stations to decide the best time to go out gritting, to ensure it is as effective as possible.

Councillor Paul Prescott, cabinet portfolio holder for planning, environmental services and transport, said : “On behalf of road users across our borough, I would like to say a huge thank you to our crews.

“Their hard work was rightly recognised with a nomination and a win last year at the Association of Public Service Excellence (APSE) Performance Network awards, for best performing roads, highway and winter maintenance team.

 “They are on standby from October right through to March, ready to go out in cold temperatures and often challenging conditions, to ensure our roads are kept safe.”