Winter drive to keep road traffic moving

AN ICEBREAKER has been drafted in from Scandinavia to bolster the fleet of winter-busting vehicles being amassed to keep Scotland moving should a third consecutive big freeze strike.

The machine has been bought by the Scottish Government’s Transport Scotland agency to tackle hard-packed ice. A 20-mile section of the M8 between Harthill and Edinburgh was shut for two days last winter because of compacted ice and snow, leaving hundreds of drivers were stranded in their vehicles.

The icebreaker will join hundreds of snowploughs, snow blowers, gritters and tractors preparing to go into action to battle blizzards. Some farmers have been put on stand-by to bring in tractors, if required.

However, transport minister Keith Brown will tomorrow warn that everyone must prepare for a possible repeat of the past two winters when he inspects a roads depot in Perth. It follows his launch of Exercise Polar Storm this month to test Scotland’s readiness for another big freeze. Brown said: “We have to be prepared for any eventuality. The watchword is to be a responsive as possible.”

Stewart Stevenson, Brown’s predecessor, resigned last December after criticism of his handling of the snow chaos.

Amey and BEAR Scotland, two of the firms that maintain motorways and trunk roads for Transport Scotland, will also use infrared cameras and ice patrol vehicles for the first time to provide faster information about weather conditions.

Amey, which covers Glasgow and the south-west, has stockpiled 21,000 tonnes of de-icing material – more than all the salt used last winter. BEAR, covering Edinburgh, the south-east and the north east, has 31,000 tonnes, twice as much as last year.

BEAR Scotland deputy managing director Brian Gordon said: “I am confident we can provide an enhanced winter service to keep traffic moving.”

Amey spokesman Colin Mackenzie said: “We have been working to secure additional fleet to help increase resilience in the face of adverse weather.”