Many in Orkney wakening up to a winter wonderland – gritter crews are out in force

Many folk in Orkney are wakening up to a winter wonderland this morning, Sunday 28 November.

While a blanket of white is certainly very picturesque especially at this time of year, it means the road conditions are tricky in parts.

Our gritters crews across the Mainland and the isles have been out treating the priority one roads since 6am. They have almost completed those, but it has taken a little longer as they are having to use the snow boards and double back on some.

At the moment the worst affected areas are in the West Mainland and the ‘Hope.

Once they have completed the priority one routes, the crews will move on to the priority two roads. They are planning on returning to priority one routes around 2pm in a bid to keep those clear.

The crews work a 12-hour day from 6am until 6pm.

The footpath crews were out on Saturday and will be treating and clearing again tomorrow. Please make use of the grit bins if you are able – it’s a huge help.

The advice is, as always, to stay home if you are able and it’s surely acceptable to stick on a Christmas movie now it’s nearing December and we have snow!

If you do have to venture out, give yourself extra journey time and drive to the conditions.

You can keep an eye on any weather warnings on the Met Office website.

There's loads more reminders and tips for winter travelling on our website, including information on how we treat roads and footpaths in winter.

Go canny folks and give the gritter crews a wave if you are passing – they are hugely appreciative of folk’s support for the work that they do, while most of us are tucked up in bed.