Residents were today thanked for their community spirit during the current snowy weather as hundreds of people helped out by gritting side streets and paths in their areas.
Aberdeen City Council’s fleet of road and pavement gritters along with roads and parks & gardens staff have been working round-the-clock in sub-zero temperatures keeping the city’s main roads and pavements (priority 1 routes) and main neighbourhood roads and pavements (priority 2 routes) gritted.
The council’s main priority is ensuring the main roads and pavements are gritted however when there are continual snow showers such as what the city has experienced during this snowfall, it means these areas have to be continually gritted.
Aberdeen City Council transport spokesman Councillor Ross Grant also said while the snow is starting to melt as temperatures increase, people should remember the city still has a yellow weather warning until 10am on Monday.
“The community spirit during the snow was fantastic to see, with neighbours looking out for each other and people gritting pavements and roads in the areas where unfortunately we couldn’t get to.
“Our first priority will always be to grit main roads and pavements, and the main neighbourhood roads and pavements, so that residents can access main amenities and bus routes. When we have continual snow showers like we have experienced during this snowfall, it means we’re continually working away to keep these areas gritted and can’t get out to side streets and pavements.
“Now the temperatures are slowly rising and the forecast is looking a bit warmer, more potholes will appear in our city’s roads as they do at the end of every winter. We can’t repair them until the frost has gone and once it does, we’ll be starting our annual pothole repair programme and anyone wanting to tell us about potholes should use the Report It function on our website (https://integration.aberdeencity.gov.uk/en/service/road_defect).
“Lastly, although the snow is starting to melt, people should remember the yellow weather warning is still in place until 10am tomorrow so please be careful on roads and pavements.
Aberdeen City Council increased levels of gritting staff throughout the weekend to allow the winter response action to be similar to the working week.
Today (Sunday), gritting took place in the main neighbourhood roads in Bucksburn, Bridge of Don, Kingswells, Northfield, Woodside, Mastrick, Cornhill/Cairncry, Woodend/summerhill, Midstocket/Kings Gate, Central Area, Hazlehead/Braeside, Mannofield/Garthdee, along with main arterial roads across the city.
In addition to the main (priority 1) routes, pavements were gritted in Bridge of Don , Seaton, and Cairncry/Cornhill, and grounds staff gritting areas around sheltered housing, cemeteries and pavements in Northfield/Mastrick, Summerhill, Sheddocksley, Mastrick, Manor/Logie, Heathryfold, Middlefield, Northfield., Raeden, Stockethill, Rosehill, Hilton, and Woodside.
Today, there were around the city 11 road gritters, 1 tractor, 9 pavement gritters, 5 pick-ups which transport the salt out to the pavement gritting teams, 30 roads staff, and 25 grounds staff who also have vehicles.
School closures or late openings due to the weather can be found at https://aberdeencity.gov.uk/school-closures.