Highway maintenance depots prepared for the onset of winter

Saxony's highway maintenance services are well prepared for the upcoming winter. In order to keep traffic flowing on the more than 500 kilometers of freeway in frost and snow, 64 vehicles and a good 230 employees are on standby, the federal freeway maintenance company announced on Thursday in Chemnitz. If necessary, the winter service is available around the clock, seven days a week. "We have completed all preparations," said Katrin Pfeil from the Dresden branch office, which is responsible for almost all of Saxony. This also includes a stock of 15,000 tons of road salt. In addition, the permanent staff will be augmented by temporary workers.

How much the salt stock will shrink in the coming weeks and months depends on the weather. Even without snow, the gritting vehicles will go out when temperatures drop to two degrees and below. This is because there is then a risk of slippery roads and gritting is also carried out as a preventative measure. On average, around 17,000 tons of salt are needed each winter, said Pfeil. "In harsh and long winters, however, more than 50,000 tons have been needed." If necessary, she assured that more could be ordered within a few days.

However, even a good supply of salt and a fleet of snow clearing vehicles cannot guarantee that the roads are always free of snow and ice. The requirement is for each section to be driven on by the winter road clearance service every two hours. In heavy snowfall or strong winds, the road can quickly turn white again. Drivers need to be prepared for this. "Only drive with winter tires," Pfeil appealed. In addition, everyone should adapt their speed to the road conditions and the weather in winter. To do this, it always makes sense to plan more driving time.