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Sustained, heavy snowfall caused major traffic delays across the Isle of Wight on Tuesday evening despite all possible precautions being put into place by the IW Council.
The council made two gritting runs in a 12 hour period but, because gritting is designed to prevent highways from icing up rather than preventing snow accumulating, hundreds of motorists experienced major delays throughout the evening because of the particularly severe snowfall.
Peter Hayward, IW Council head of highways, said: "Precautionary gritting of the Island's primary road network was undertaken this morning giving high levels of residual salt on road surfaces in advance of the predicted snowfall.
Our fleet of six gritting vehicles was sent on a further run at 5.30 this afternoon just as the snowfall started to ensure the best possible protection for the primary road network.
"Whilst gritting/salting does reduce the freezing temperature of the road surface an will prevent icing in all but the most severe conditions, it does not prevent snow from laying in severe conditions such as these.
"As a result, the precautions have not – and never would – prevent some severe problems given the heavy snowfall particularly in the north and west of the Island.
"Our gritting fleet is supplemented with six snow plough attachmens to help in such conditions although these are only effective where snow accumulation reaches more than a couple of inches. These will be deployed on those primary routes as conditions require.
"Driving conditions are difficult across the Island and particular care should be taken, particularly on untreated, minor roads. As previously stated, people should avoid travelling unless absolutely necessary to do so while these conditions remain and should stay tuned to local media for updates.
"Up to the minute information on any school closures will be made available on the council's website www.iwight.com"
