The gritting lorries and crews. Picture by Robin Crossley.
TRUE GRIT is lined up to deal with a predicted cold snap.
The IW Council has signed a four-year contract with the Ringway Group for 12 technologically advanced gritting lorries on 24-hour standby.
It is costing £300,000 each year, with an extra £4,500 each callout. If there are the predicted 19 callouts this winter the council will be well within its £420,000 budget gritting budget.
The lorries are equipped with GPS satellite systems allowing the council to instantly see where they are. An alarm is triggered if they stray off-route or travel too fast.
The amount of salt being laid is also displayed and there is the facility to spread more at problem spots.
IW Council head of highways Peter Hayward said: "The fleet of gritters will be deployed when freezing conditions are forecast and our remote temperature sensors report falling temperatures.
"The technology will help us to quickly spot any problem areas, get them sorted out and keep the Island moving this winter."
Meanwhile, the council is moving to reassure residents it has a full stockpile of salt for its roads, following media reports of a national shortage of salt.
The council currently has a full 800-tonne stockpile of salt in readiness to use on Island roads during cold weather.
That amount is capable of coping with at least 20 days of continuous freezing conditions and the authority also has an ongoing arrangement with is contractor to replenish stockpiles when necessary.