Highland Council winter road condition reports for 11 March 2013.
The Highland Council’s snow clearing / gritting route policies and area maps are online for 2012/13 at http://www.highland.gov.uk/gritting.htm.
The Council’s TEC Services staff and fleet of 116 road and 49 pavement gritters have been working all morning since 6am throughout the Highlands as per gritting policy and routes priorities.
There have been very cold temperatures below zero experienced all over the Highlands, with -9.0 C ground temperature recorded in Grantown on Spey. The far west is the exception with warmer surface temperatures above zero. In very dry and cold conditions road salt is not as effective below zero.
Road condition and gritting treatment reports by The Highland Council’s, Transport, Environmental and Community Services for the morning of Monday 11 March 2013 are as follows:
South Sutherland and East Ross
B9176 Struie road badly affected by hard packed snow and ice, all other routes affected by ice and a dusting of snow but passable with care. Posted: 11/03/2013 09:16
Lochaber
High routes treated. All others clear and dry. Posted: 11/03/2013 08:48
Skye and Lochalsh
Light dusting of snow on the North side of Mam Ratagan, otherwise roads dry with no problems. Posted: 11/03/2013 08:36
Inverness
1"- 2" of snow affecting all roads and footpaths. All gritters deployed treating as per priority. Posted: 11/03/2013 08:35
Caithness and North Sutherland
Mainly dry roads, but frozen snow and ice in South East Caithness treating in priority order as required. Posted: 11/03/2013 08:32.
Badenoch and Strathspey
North of area up to 5cm snow packing because of low temperatures. South area light covering of snow, roads clearing. All routes been treated by priority including footpaths. Posted: 11/03/2013 07:56
Mid and West Ross
All routes in the east of the area affected by ice and snow, in places up to 3-4cm. Very low temperatures making it hard to shift. Very cold but dry in the west of the area. All routes and footpaths being treated by priority. Posted: 11/03/2013 07:48
Nairn
Snow over area 1cm over lower area to 5cm over higher area. All routes treated by priority including footpaths. Posted: 11/03/2013 07:24
The information provided is a synopsis of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions before travelling.