North East

Drivers on the North East's trunk roads can look forward to well treated roads even when the worst of the winter weather hits thanks to new facilities on offer in the region.

A new 3,500-ton capacity salt barn has been officially opened at the Agency's Carville Depot in Durham and this will be in the front line of its work to keep the region's trunk road open.

The Highways Agency is also working more closely with the Met Office to ensure that robust weather forecasts are received at its depots across the region so that gritting and ploughing crews can be scrambled at a moments notice to keep traffic running.

John Wainwright, winter services manager for the Highways Agency said:

"The new salt barn at Carville has greater capacity compared to the old one and also is more enclosed to protect the salt from the bad weather.

"Carville is a key depot in our fight to keep the trunk roads open as it serves some of the most exposed sections of A1 and A66 in County Durham. Our crews have been out on patrol and treating the roads to help keep them open since October, but the end of December, January and February are often the hardest months we face to keep traffic flowing."

John Wainwright also said that drivers have a real part to play in keeping roads open.

"The Highways Agency, in conjunction with the Met Office, has published a new 'Winter Driving' leaflet which provides tips for safer driving in bad weather. One of the most important considerations that drivers need to bear in mind is whether or not their journey is really necessary.

"Abandoned vehicles are one of the biggest problems faced by our gritting crews. Sometimes the problem is so bad that the gritters or ploughs can't actually get through, which causes snow build-up. This results in longer road closure."

The Winter Driving leaflet also suggests that drivers keep an 'Emergency Pack' handy to help them get through the problem. . The Emergency Pack should contain:
* Ice scrapper
* De-icer
* Torch
* Blanket
* Warm Clothes
* Food and drink
* Boots
* First-aid kit
* Battery jump leads
* Spade

Sunglasses should also be kept handy as they are a useful shield against bright winter sun.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport. It manages, maintains and improves the network of trunk roads and motorways in England on behalf of the Secretary of State. It works closely with other transport operators and with local authorities to integrate the trunk road network with the rest of England's roads and other forms of travel.

2. Information about roadworks throughout the region is available from the Highways Agency information line on 08457 50 40 30 or from the Highways Agency website http://www.highways.gov.uk.

3. Key facts and figures about Highways Agency and Winter Maintenance in the North East
* Six North East Depots:
o Carville,
o Bradbury,
o Kneeton (all A1M plus A1 Dishforth - Barton, and A66 )
o Alnwick (A1)
o Swalwell (A1 Gateshead Western)
o Otterburn (A696/68)
* 15 gritters plus eight reserve gritters - all with the capability to have snow ploughs attached- plus one snow blower.
* The whole of the North East network - 684 lane miles (1,100 lane kilometres) - can be gritted within three hours of the crews receiving the call out

4. Key facts and figures about Highways Agency and Winter Maintenance in the North of England
* Budget for winter maintenance in the North of England for 2003/04 - £11m
* 90 dedicated HA snowplough/gritters for m/way. Cost £100k each. Developed by the HA for use on m/ways. Computer controlled body ensures even spread with minimum waste. Can spread and plough from any lane. High visibility vehicles to warn motorists of their presence and activity
* 19 dedicated HA reserve snowplough/ gritters. Cost as above. Other vehicles can be drafted into the area in times of severe localised snowfalls.
* 21 salt loading hoppers for rapid filling of vehicles.
* 27 HA tractor loading shovels to supplement loading. Cost £31.000 each
* 10 Rolba snowblowers, Capacity 1200 tonnes/hour. Cost £120k each
* 2 Rolba snowblower. Capacity 2500 tonnes/hour. Cost £225k each
* Standby generators at key depots in case of electrical power loss.

5. Key facts and figures about Highways Agency and Winter Maintenance nationally
* Independent Ice prediction stations linked to weather bureau to give details of road surface temperatures, temperatures deep within the roads construction, air temperature, dew point, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction and type of precipitation. The UK has the largest network if ice prediction stations in Europe, in excess of 700. Sweden second with 600.
* The Highways Agency has the largest network of these ice prediction stations in the UK. This helps reduce the number of salting operations to those actually required, saving salt and reducing the environmental impact.

6. WINTER SAFE DRIVING KEY MESSAGES
The Highways Agency and the Department for Transport's Think road safety campaign advise drivers to follow six key messages about driving safely in wintry weather. These are:

* The British winter is unpredictable. If you must drive, make sure you are prepared for the bad weather conditions.

* Check local and national weather forecasts. Listen to travel information on radio.

* Make sure you're equipped with warm clothes, food, water, boots, de-icer, a torch and spade.

* Take care around winter service vehicles. Don't be tempted to overtake snowploughs by squeezing into partially cleared lanes.

* It can take ten times longer to stop in icy conditions. Allow extra room to slow down and stop.

* Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin. Manoeuvre gently and avoid harsh braking and acceleration.

Issued on behalf of the Highways Agency by the Government News Network North East

Client ref NE/610/04

GNN ref 106933P