ROADS officials are to be asked to include the Churchtown and Crew roads on the Department for Infrastructure’s permanent winter gritting programme.
Both roads are currently being gritted as they are carrying increased traffic due to diversions as a result of roadworks.
South Down MLA Colin McGrath and Downpatrick area councillor Gareth Sharvin hope both roads can remain permanent fixtures on the winter gritting schedule.
Mr McGrath said he was alerted that the roads were not being gritted and contacted the roads department as they are used by school buses and a significant level of traffic while the roadworks along the Shore Road in Strangford continue.
He said while roads officials had planned to grit the route as part of any planned gritting, this would only have been during the working day.
“Given the coldest weather is generally outside these hours we pressed this issue with officials and I’m delighted the routes have been added to the gritting schedule until the Shore Road works are completed in March.”
Cllr Sharvin said drivers say the gritting has made a “significant improvement” to road safety and thanked roads officials.
He added: “As we look to the future we are both keen to see if DFI Roads will now consider including these two roads in the permanent gritting schedule.
Given the difference this gritting makes, it would be of real benefit to include the roads on the permanent schedule and I look forward to working with officials to see if that can be delivered.”