East Sussex Highways is carrying out its annual winter readiness exercise, Operation Snowdrop.
On Friday, 21 gritters will drive the county’s busiest routes to rehearse for icy conditions.
The practice run won’t involve spreading salt, but crews will use the opportunity to spot any overgrown vegetation that could block the large vehicles.
Councillor Claire Dowling, lead member for transport at East Sussex County Council, said: “Our team of gritters do a fantastic job helping to keep the county’s roads clear of snow and ice during the winter months.
“Although it may seem odd for our gritters to head out when there is no snow, the Operation Snowdrop dry run is a chance for the team to check everything is in place for the arrival of cold weather and is a key part of our winter service planning.”
The winter gritting season runs from October 1 until the end of April and during this time the council’s gritter drivers are on standby 24 hours a day.
Around 10,000 tonnes of dry rock salt is stored at the county’s five highways depot – Ringmer, Heathfield, Polegate, Cripps Corner and Maresfield, ready for use when the road surface falls close to or below freezing or when snow is forecast.
Information on the East Sussex Highways winter service is available at https://live.eastsussexhighways.com/services/services-winter-service
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