New gritting application proving successful in Mayo

A NEW gritting system to treat roads in Mayo during cold weather is being extended this year.

It involves the application of brine in addition to traditional salting.

The practice started last year and is available in the Castlebar depot. It's coming to the Claremorris depot this year, and it will be rolled out across the county in time.

The update was given by the council's acting head of roads at a committee meeting on roads.

Conrad Harley explained how a brine solution is added to the salt, spraying onto the grit, and the grit becomes sticky, with more of it sticking to the road.

It has proven very successful, he told members.

Mayo County Council grits 21 routes, covering 1,397 kilometres of road across the county every time they go out gritting.

Tribute was paid to the staff who treat the roads, putting themselves at risk for the safety of the public.

* Published under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme