As Roads Minister Chris Hazzard announces the start of the annual roads winter safety service local arrangements will be in place for each of the divsional areas.
DfI Roads Northern Divisional Manager Deidre Mackle confirmed arrangements for the local area saying:
“Throughout the winter season from now until the middle of April, we will have 78 staff on standby to salt main roads, helping drivers to cope with wintry conditions. Salt barns and stockpiles are being filled to maximum capacity in Northern Division which encompasses the council areas of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Mid and East Antrim and Causeway Coast and Glens.
“When ice or snow is forecast, we have 38 gritters available which can salt the main network in just over three hours, a massive logistical exercise that costs around £20,000 each time it takes place.
DfI Roads Southern Divisional Manager Simon Richardson confirmed arrangements for the local area, saying:
“Throughout the winter season from now until the April, we will have 74 staff on standby in Southern Division to salt main roads, helping drivers to cope with wintry conditions. Salt barns and stockpiles are being filled to maximum capacity in Southern Division which carries out salting in the council areas of Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon and Newry, Mourne & Down.
“When ice or snow is forecast, we have 31 gritters available which can salt the main network in just over three hours, a massive logistical exercise that costs around £20,000 each time it takes place.
DfI Roads Eastern Divisional Manager Kevin Monaghan confirmed arrangements for the local area saying:
“Throughout the winter season, from now until the middle of April, we will have 61 staff on standby to salt main roads, helping drivers to cope with wintry conditions. Salt barns and stockpiles are being filled to maximum capacity in Eastern Division which encompasses the council areas of Belfast, Lisburn, and Castlereagh.
“When ice or snow is forecast we have 27 gritters available which can salt the main network in just over three hours, a massive logistical exercise that costs around £20,000 each time it takes place.
DfI Roads Western Divisional Manager Conor Loughrey confirmed arrangements saying:
"Throughout the winter season from now until the middle of April, we will have 68 staff on standby to ensure the main roads are salted, helping drivers to cope with wintry conditions. Salt barns and stockpiles are being filled to maximum capacity in Western Division which encompasses the council areas of Mid Ulster, Fermanagh & Omagh, and Derry City & Strabane.
“When ice or snow is forecast, we have 34 gritters available which can salt the main network in just over three hours, a massive logistical exercise that costs around £20,000 each time it takes place."
DfI Roads will continue to provide salt bins and grit piles at strategic locations and will endeavour to replenish them during the winter. The salt bins and grit piles will be for use on a self help basis to help prevent the formation of snow and ice on pavements and untreated roads.
Arrangements will also be in place to enlist the help of contractors, including farmers, to clear blocked roads and DfI Roads have introduced enhanced communication arrangements and priority secondary salting to rural schools that are most affected by wintery weather conditions.
Heavy snowfalls such as those we experienced in recent winters, 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.
Even with the most careful and thorough planning, the use of special Met Office forecasts and the latest ice prediction technology, winter service is really a battle against the elements and 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.
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.
The operation will continue until all roads are cleared, but this may take some time, even with all resources deployed. In very deep snow, DfI Roads will use its snow blowers, the latest of which can shift 1,600 tonnes of snow an hour.