Efforts to keep Aberdeen moving through winter have been bolstered by the delivery of 2,500 tonnes of salt for the roads.
The council received the huge shipment by boat at the city’s harbour earlier this week.
An initial shipment of grit came from Cleveland in North Yorkshire but stocks will be topped-up as it is used through the coming months.
Aberdeen City Council transport spokeswoman Sandra Macdonald said: “It was fascinating standing at the dockside watching all that salt being unloaded onto lorries to top up the salt stocks in our two main depots.
“Once again we all hope that the oncoming winter will be a moderate one, however it is reassuring that our gritting teams are getting prepared with tonnes of salt ready to be loaded onto gritters.
“Our staff go above and beyond to ensure the city’s key roads and pavements are kept gritted in line with the agreed prioritisation routes.”
The council will be starting the season with its lowest salt stocks in years.
Last month, councillors were told the local authority’s stockpiles sat at 10,127 tonnes, the lowest starting point in four winters.
Roads workers have warned the stockpile may not be “adequate” to get the city through a harsh winter.
In the last bad cold spell in 2017/18, more than 15,000 tonnes was used.
Due to the pandemic there is also concern staff shortages could leave some priority roads untreated.
Officials warned “it is possible lockdown restrictions may limit the number of staff available to complete winter operations”.
Council lorry drivers working in other departments could be drafted in to keep roads and pavements safe.
There is further concern sickness elsewhere could halt the vital top-ups of grit stocks through the winter, if those in the supply chain cannot work due to the pandemic.
If either of those situations arise, the local authority’s roads team said the busiest roads, and those linking to priority sites such as hospitals, would be treated as “an absolute minimum”.
But it could leave main roads through the likes of Cove, Torry, Milltimber, Garthdee, Kincorth, Dyce, Bridge of Don, Northfield and the west end to the snow and ice.
