New Gritters Will Double Up For Highways Works

A fleet of 21 new vehicles for gritting and highways construction works is being introduced in Carmarthenshire. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The dual purpose vehicles have interchangeable bodies – this means they can be used to spread salt on our roads during the winter months and also undertake highways maintenance works all year round. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council has also reduced its winter maintenance fleet from 35 to 21 reducing its capital spend by £1.2million as well as delivering savings of around half-a-million-pounds during the life of the vehicles. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The vehicles are cleaner with reduced emissions helping to reduce the authority’s carbon footprint; and feature a new in-cab route navigation and fully automated gritting system. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This means the drivers can simply select the route they want and follow the map and the default spread rate; preventing over or under salting. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Executive Board Member for the Environment Cllr Hazel Evans said: “We have taken delivery of 21 new vehicles that can be used for both gritting to help keep our roads safe during the winter months and for highways construction works throughout the year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The vehicles are cutting edge and will help improve our winter maintenance service, as well as reduce our environmental impact and save money in the long-term.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Council Leader Emlyn Dole said: “We are investing heavily in our vehicle fleet; for example, we have recently launched our refuse lorries and this is our latest addition of new winter maintenance and highways vehicles ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I am delighted to say that Carmarthenshire is leading the way with one of the most modern and advanced fleets in the UK.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Richard Harvey, municipal sales consultant for Euro Commercials, said: “We are really pleased to continue our excellent working relationship with Carmarthenshire County Council by providing these modern, cutting-edge gritter vehicles. Safety is vitally important to Mercedes-Benz and these vehicles will help improve the services provided by the council.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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