Winter road condition and school closure report for 11 December 2014

 

The Highland Council’s snow clearing / gritting route policies and area maps for 2014/15 are online at www.highland.gov.uk/gritting. School closures can be found at www.highland.gov.uk/schoolclosures.

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.

Road condition and gritting treatment reports by The Highland Council’s Community Services for the morning of Thursday, 11 December 2014 are as follows:

Badenoch and Strathspey

Gritting primary and secondary routes (main roads and bus routes) according to policy and priority. 3-5" fresh snow, drifting on the higher routes A939 Dava and Bridge of Brown.   B9007 Ferness closed due to snow and poor visibility. Posted: 11/12/2014 08:05

South Sutherland and East Ross 

Higher routes affected by heavy snow fall, some routes requiring a second treatment. Lower routes mainly slushy. All routes patrolled and treated in accordance with policy. No major issues reported. Posted: 11/12/2014 08:58

Caithness and North Sutherland

Most roads affected by slush or snow, up to 2", wintry showers and low road surface temperatures, all routes treated according to policy and priority. Posted: 11/12/2014 08:48

Nairn

Up to 3" snow on highest routes, slush/wet lower routes. Posted: 11/12/2014 08:13

Lochaber

A mixture of hail sleet and snow across the area. Primary routes being treated with 10 or 20gms salt. Posted: 11/12/2014 08:07

Skye & Lochalsh

Roads generally wet, though marginal road surface temperatures. Light cover of hail/snow over Mam Ratagan. Primary routes treated according to policy. Patrol ongoing. Posted: 11/12/2014 07:42

Mid and West Ross

Wind strength has reduced. Snow showers widespread this morning. 5cm snow cover on high routes plus some drifting. Lower level roads wet with some slush. Checking and treating all routes as required. Posted: 11/12/2014 07:24

Inverness

Low roads wet/slushy, 2" snow cover on high roads, gritting all routes plus blading where required according to policy and priority. Posted: 11/12/2014 06:48

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.

As at 11:00 today Thursday 11 December 12 Highland Council schools and nurseries are closed affecting some 826 pupils. The following schools are closed:

  • Eigg Primary -  Closed (bad weather)
  • Eigg Primary Nursery -  Closed (bad weather)
  • Grantown Grammar -  Closed (bad weather)
  • Grantown Primary -  Closed (bad weather)
  • Grantown Primary Nursery -  Closed (bad weather)
  • Kilmuir Primary -  Closed (no water/heating/power)
  • Kilmuir Primary Nursery - GM -  Closed (no water/heating/power)
  • Plockton Primary -  Closed (no water/heating/power)
  • Sleat Nursery - GM -  Closed (bad weather)
  • St Bride's Primary -  Partially closed – opening 1 hour later (no water/heating/power)
  • St Brides Primary Nursery -  Closed (no water/heating/power)
  • Tongue Pre-school Centre -  Closed (bad weather)  
11 Dec 2014