Transport Minister Danny Kennedy today advised motorists to take extra care while driving as winter approaches.
Two years ago motorists in rural Down were badly hit as snow and ice covered country roads for weeks causing havoc to farming and country life.
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Snow banked up on a country road near Castlewellan during the bad winter two years ago.[/caption]
Speaking as he announced the start of his Department’s Winter Service operation, Danny Kennedy said: “Every night from now until the middle of April, we will have almost 300 staff and over 120 gritters on standby to ensure the main roads are salted, helping drivers to cope with wintry conditions.
“A large number of these gritters have been replaced this season to improve the reliability in this important service. Salt barns and stockpiles have also been filled to capacity and TransportNI is now holding stocks of almost 110,000 tonnes of salt.
“It is impossible to say with any certainty what this winter might bring, but after some of he most severe weather conditions we have experienced in the last five years we have worked to improve and invest in our services so that we are well prepared.”
The roll-out of the winter service operation continues to be a massive logistical undertaking that involves salting around 7,000 kilometres of main roads in just over three hours, across Northern Ireland, at a cost of approximately £80,000 per night.
During periods of prolonged snow, all gritters will be fitted with snow ploughs and efforts directed to clearing snow from motorways and the trunk roads, before moving to other main roads and the busiest urban link roads.
Continuing the Minister said: “The operation will continue until these roads are cleared, but as was evident during the snow events in recent years, this may take some time, even with all resources deployed. In very deep snow, TransportNI will use its snow blowers, the latest of which can shift 1,600 tonnes of snow an hour.”
Arrangements are also in place to enlist the help of contractors, including farmers, to clear blocked roads. TransportNI has introduced enhanced communication arrangements and priority secondary salting to approximately 50 rural schools that are most affected by wintery weather conditions.
Danny Kennedy said: “Heavy snowfalls such as those we experienced in recent years, highlighted the essential role farmers, agricultural contractors and other plant operators played in helping to clear the roads for the public. During these events, many people voluntarily helped out and their assistance was greatly appreciated. With their help, many roads blocked by snow were cleared and able to be used by the emergency services, utilities and the public.
“While it is impossible to predict what this winter will bring, we are very keen to bring in additional resources so that we can call for extra help if and when it is needed. TransportNI will continue to provide, approximately 4,800 salt bins and 50,000 grit piles at strategic locations for use on a self help basis to help prevent the formation of snow and ice on pavements and untreated roads – and will be continually replenishing these during the winter.”
TransportNI will try to ensure that motorists are kept fully up to date with road conditions at this time of year. Information on salting activities is relayed electronically to the media to ensure the latest news on road conditions is available to motorists. This information is also relayed to the Trafficwatch NI website
to ensure the public are kept up to date with winter service operations.
The Minister warned: “Even with the most careful and thorough planning, the use of special Met Office forecasts and the latest ice prediction technology, ice-free roads cannot be guaranteed.
“Motorists have to play their part by taking extra care during wintry conditions. The best advice is in the Highway Code, drive with care even if roads have been salted, be prepared for road conditions changing over short distances and take care when overtaking gritters.”
The public should also prepare for winter and commercial property owners in particular should make sure that they have adequate supplies of salt in place to ensure the safety of employees and visitors.
The TransportNI Winter Service Information Leaflet ‘Keeping Traffic on the Move During Winter’ is available online at:
www.drdni.gov.uk/index/roadsni-3.htm
or by calling 028 9054 0540.
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