Highland Council winter road condition and school closure report for Tuesday, 3 March 2015

Road condition and gritting treatment reports by The Highland Council’s Community Services for the morning of Tuesday, 3 March 2015 are as follows:

Lochaber

A mixture of snow and ice across the area with 5cm on the higher routes and gritters still working on primary and secondary routes. Still snowing at time of posting. Posted: 03/03/2015 09:25

Caithness and North Sutherland

Light dusting of snow in Caithness. Up to 10cm snow in Sutherland, with drifting. All routes being bladed and treated. Cold roads, so icy patches throughout. Posted: 03/03/2015 08:42

Nairn

A covering of snow on low routes, up to 2cm on high east routes. Treating routes by priority. Posted: 03/03/2015 07:58

Badenoch & Strathspey

Fresh snow cover and wintry showers. Treating routes by priority. Posted: 03/03/2015 07:41

Black Isle, Mid & West Ross

Snow affecting all routes in the area. Depths ranging from 1cm at lower levels to 10cm on the highest routes. Icy below the snow on some routes in the east of the area. Treatment ongoing on a priority basis. Posted: 03/03/2015 07:39

Skye and Lochalsh

Up to 5cm snow cover on lower levels, 7cm to 8cm on higher routes ploughing and treatment on going. Posted: 03/03/2015 07:25

Inverness

5cm snow cover on low roads, 15cm snow cover on high roads, gritters working on all priority routes. Posted: 03/03/2015 06:44

Maps of the Council’s gritting routes by priority and policy are available online for: Badenoch and Strathspey; Caithness and North Sutherland; Inverness; Lochaber; Nairn; Skye and Lochalsh; South Sutherland and East Ross; and Wester Ross and Black Isle. 

The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time.  It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.  

Highland has the longest road network of any council in Scotland and it is not possible to treat every road at the same time. A priority system is applied to treat the areas in greatest need first.

Trunk roads are gritted by BEAR Scotland (North West) for Transport Scotland.

School Closures:

As at 10:30 today the following schools are closed due to the bad weather / road conditions:

  • Cannich Bridge Primary and Nursery - Closed (bad weather)
  • Drummond School and Nursery -  Closed (bad weather)
  • Foyers Primary - Closed (bad weather)
  • St Clement's School and Nursery - Closed (severe road conditions)
  • Stratherrick Primary -  Closed (bad weather)

The situation is continually changing so an up-to-date list through the day up until 6pm is provided by visiting the council’s school closure website www.highland.gov.uk/schoolclosures.

Tomorrow morning parents and carers are advised to check this site from 7am onwards or use the school closures phone line on 0800 564 2272 using the PIN number for their school (which is also available at http://www.highland.gov.uk/schoolclosures) for further information updates.

3 Mar 2015