Lancashire County Council confirms gritters are 'on standby' as temperatures set to spike
Temperatures are expected to reach between 32C and 35C in Lancashire over the coming days.
Lancashire County Council has confirmed that it is poised to deploy its fleet of gritters as temperatures spike later this week.
The news comes as temperatures are expected to match Lancashire’s previous record of 35C on Thursday, which could cause some roads melt.
However, “how can gritters help with this?” we hear you ask.
Road surfaces can reach temperatures of 50C to 55C, causing the underlying bitumen to soften, while melting tar can strip away and cling to vehicle tyres.
If needed, the council fleet will be loaded with crushed stone, such as granite dust, or sand, which can be spread on roads to absorb sticky tar and provide extra grip for vehicles.
A spokesman for Lancashire County Council said: “Gritters were deployed during a recent spell of hot weather in a number of locations across Lancashire, including Clitheroe Road (B6243) next to the mountain pass of Pendle Hill.
“We are ready to deploy gritters again, if required, during the current period of high temperatures.”