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04/11/2004
Extra roads service staff on standby for winter months
The DRD Roads Service has confirmed that it will have 160 staff on standby between now and next March to combat any possible road disruption during the winter months.
While the extra staff will salt roads and help keep traffic on main roads flowing freely, Minister of State, John Spellar, warned motorists that despite the salting operation, ice-free roads could not be guaranteed.
Speaking at the launch of this year’s winter service operation the Minister said: "It takes over three hours to salt a route, so your journey could start or end on an untreated section of road. Remember, salt does not act immediately; it needs vehicles to turn the salt and ice into an effective solution and it can refreeze after salting.
"I appeal to all motorists to heed the advice 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."
Roads Service provides a winter gritting service from November to March every year which involves salting nearly 7,000 kilometers of roads, in just over three hours, across Northern Ireland, at a cost of £74,000 per night.
"The salted network is around 6,800 km (4,225 miles) and covers 28% of Northern Ireland’s roads and caters for 80% of traffic,” the Minister said. “Whilst I can understand the concerns of those who use the more lightly trafficked roads that are not included in the salted network, it is simply not practical to salt all roads.
“To cover 90% of traffic, we would have to double the size of the treated network and the cost would double to £10 million,” he concluded.
(MB)
While the extra staff will salt roads and help keep traffic on main roads flowing freely, Minister of State, John Spellar, warned motorists that despite the salting operation, ice-free roads could not be guaranteed.
Speaking at the launch of this year’s winter service operation the Minister said: "It takes over three hours to salt a route, so your journey could start or end on an untreated section of road. Remember, salt does not act immediately; it needs vehicles to turn the salt and ice into an effective solution and it can refreeze after salting.
"I appeal to all motorists to heed the advice 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."
Roads Service provides a winter gritting service from November to March every year which involves salting nearly 7,000 kilometers of roads, in just over three hours, across Northern Ireland, at a cost of £74,000 per night.
"The salted network is around 6,800 km (4,225 miles) and covers 28% of Northern Ireland’s roads and caters for 80% of traffic,” the Minister said. “Whilst I can understand the concerns of those who use the more lightly trafficked roads that are not included in the salted network, it is simply not practical to salt all roads.
“To cover 90% of traffic, we would have to double the size of the treated network and the cost would double to £10 million,” he concluded.
(MB)
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27 October 2011
Only Major Roads To Get Winter Clearances
NI motorists are being warned to take extra care on winter roads - and while pedestrians are being supported with more town and city pavements set to be cleared this year - minor roads will again not be treated at all.
Only Major Roads To Get Winter Clearances
NI motorists are being warned to take extra care on winter roads - and while pedestrians are being supported with more town and city pavements set to be cleared this year - minor roads will again not be treated at all.
26 January 2004
Roads Service prepared to deal with snowfalls
Prepared to deal with heavy snowfalls, the DRD Roads Service in Northern Ireland have been on special alert since Sunday, following an advanced warning of possible snow from the Meteorological Office.
Roads Service prepared to deal with snowfalls
Prepared to deal with heavy snowfalls, the DRD Roads Service in Northern Ireland have been on special alert since Sunday, following an advanced warning of possible snow from the Meteorological Office.
16 December 2010
Winter Wonderland To Return
As national weather forecasters said that the North and West of the UK would be worst hit by another spell of freezing temperatures - snow showers are expected to return to NI later today. With several centimetres of snow predicted to fall in some places, forecasters said the renewed Arctic blast could last into the middle of next week.
Winter Wonderland To Return
As national weather forecasters said that the North and West of the UK would be worst hit by another spell of freezing temperatures - snow showers are expected to return to NI later today. With several centimetres of snow predicted to fall in some places, forecasters said the renewed Arctic blast could last into the middle of next week.
09 May 2006
Roads Service to spend £6M on improvements
The Roads Service is to invest £4 million into the Armagh district and £2 million in the Newtownabbey area over the next twelve months, it has been revealed today.
Roads Service to spend £6M on improvements
The Roads Service is to invest £4 million into the Armagh district and £2 million in the Newtownabbey area over the next twelve months, it has been revealed today.
02 December 2003
Local roads get record £80m spend
A record £80 million will be spent on structural roads maintenance this year across Northern Ireland. The figure was revealed by Deputy Divisional Roads Manager, Tom McCourt as he presented DRD Roads Service’s autumn report to Newtownabbey Borough Council. Mr McCourt said: "This is a huge increase in investment over previous years.
Local roads get record £80m spend
A record £80 million will be spent on structural roads maintenance this year across Northern Ireland. The figure was revealed by Deputy Divisional Roads Manager, Tom McCourt as he presented DRD Roads Service’s autumn report to Newtownabbey Borough Council. Mr McCourt said: "This is a huge increase in investment over previous years.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
