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Gritting teams are getting ready to hit the road again after working hard to prepare for the winter season ahead.

Staff at Kent County Council’s highway depots around the county have been rolling out practising the routes they will cover in the months ahead.

Last year, our crews regularly covered 58 primary main road routes using 9,160 tonnes of salt.

It was also the first year where, working with partner organisation Amey Consulting, KCC introduced a data model to ensure roads are kept safe for drivers in winter.

Using historical information, teams were able to plan the most efficient routes by looking at road surface temperature sensor readings from previous years.

This approach will be used again this year and ensure the primary routes most likely to ice over continue to be the ones that will be treated, reducing the amount of unnecessary gritting.

Salt bins will also be refilled to enable residents to make their own neighbourhoods safe, if an unexpected cold snap should occur.

Meanwhile the usual messages for drivers remain to make sure their vehicles are ready for winter and motorists drive to the conditions.

Kent County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, David Brazier, said: “Every winter we rely on our team of gritters to ensure that when temperatures fall they go out and treat our primary road network.”

“This year we have prepared like every other and have enough salt to see us through the cold months ahead."

“As ever, it is important that people take responsibility and ensure they are safe before they set off.”

Click here to find out how you can make sure you are ready for the winter weather ahead.

You can also search Gritting Kent on Facebook or follow @GrittingKent on Twitter for updates throughout the winter.