£1.1m worth of improvements made by M6Toll

The M6Toll says its users are in “safe hands this winter” following a £1.1m investment in seasonal weather preparations.

Improvements made include extra safety patrols, a more sophisticated weather reporting system and upgraded gritters to help the 31-strong operations team keep the road flowing freely.
 
If the temperature drops, pre-wetted salt will be used by gritters for the first time this year, which can be safer, quicker and more effective in keeping roads ice-free.

Large tanks have also been installed on-site to produce a special brine solution, which is then carried on the gritter lorries and sprayed onto the rock salt as it leaves the rear of the vehicle.
 
M6toll’s chief operating officer, James Hodson said: “Pre-wetted salt can be applied faster, at lower temperatures and with less waste.

“That means safer roads and less impact on the environment, potentially reducing our rock salt usage by hundreds of tonnes a year.”