The new gritters have a digital operating system with the latest route map planning software, ensuring they are winter ready to keep Suffolk’s roads safe and moving in the event of ice or snow.
A competition to name the gritters was launched at this year’s Suffolk Show, with winning entries including Salty, Gritty McGrit Face and Grit Britain, being unveiled during a recent ceremony in Ipswich.
There are also multiple Suffolk-related names in the fleet, such as Spread Sheeran, Lizzie Gritzzini and Grit Rhys Jones in recognition of some of the county’s famous residents.
They are not the only celebrities to be honoured, as Gritney Houston, Spready Mercury, Keanu Freeze, Lewis Caploughdie, and David Attenbrrrrrr are set to grace Suffolk’s roads in the coming weeks and months.
Councillor Paul West, Suffolk County Council’s cabinet member for Ipswich, operational highways and flooding, said:
“I am delighted that Suffolk Highways has welcomed 38 state-of-the-art gritters to its fleet, with the names chosen by our county’s young people likely to raise a smile when they are spotted out and about this winter.
“Although last winter season was milder than previous years, Suffolk Highways still gritted over 3,200 miles of road, roughly the distance from London to Dubai, in response to road temperatures being forecast to drop below one degree celsius on 62 occasions.
“This is a testament to the dedication and commitment of our winter maintenance drivers, who often work around the clock or sacrifice time with their loved ones to ensure that Suffolk’s roads are gritted and ready for use by highway users. However, we all still need to play our part by driving to the conditions and preparing our own vehicles for winter.”
Whilst the weather has been warmer in recent weeks, Suffolk residents may get a glimpse of the new gritting fleet when they carry out their test grit runs in the coming days.
Further information on winter maintenance carried out by Suffolk Highways, including which roads are gritted, can be found at www.suffolk.gov.uk/roads-and-transport/highway-maintenance/check-which-roads-are-gritted.
