HAMPSHIRE Highways teams are trialling new robotic grass cutters as the annual grass cutting programme gets underway.
Hampshire county councillor Rob Humby said: “Grass cutting is an important part of our annual highways maintenance programme as good visibility is vital for all those using the road to maintain clear lines of sight.
“We are always looking at how we can harness technology to improve what we do, and in this case, using a robotic grass cutter means that less cones and other traffic management measures are needed on the roads, so disruption to traffic should be minimised.”
Skanska’s business director Matthew Riches added: “The robotic cutters use smart technology to easily navigate around obstacles and pre-set boundaries. This means they can be used in areas where traffic travels at higher speeds and where it would be more dangerous for our workers to operate, keeping them safer.”
Hampshire County Council manages around 2,000 miles of roadside verges, and grass and foliage is cut once a year on rural roads with urban verges cut more often.
To report a verge that may need cutting visit the webpage at: www.hants.gov.uk/transport/roadmaintenance/roadproblems/treehedge