Menu
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)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
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.
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.
20 November 2024
Roads Service Ready For Winter Weather
Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd has confirmed that the Department's winter service team is prepared to tackle the current cold snap. Around 300 staff and 130 gritters are ready to salt main roads, while 12 snow blowers are available for deployment if necessary. To ensure a comprehensive winter service, the Department has allocated £3.
Roads Service Ready For Winter Weather
Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd has confirmed that the Department's winter service team is prepared to tackle the current cold snap. Around 300 staff and 130 gritters are ready to salt main roads, while 12 snow blowers are available for deployment if necessary. To ensure a comprehensive winter service, the Department has allocated £3.
09 December 2022
Winter Safety Service Ready Now Fully Operational
Northern Ireland's Winter Safety Service is fully operational and ready to keep people moving, the Department for Infrastructure has announced. Around 300 staff and 130 gritters are available to salt main roads to keep traffic moving safely and freely. Twelve specialist snow blowers are also available to be deployed if required.
Winter Safety Service Ready Now Fully Operational
Northern Ireland's Winter Safety Service is fully operational and ready to keep people moving, the Department for Infrastructure has announced. Around 300 staff and 130 gritters are available to salt main roads to keep traffic moving safely and freely. Twelve specialist snow blowers are also available to be deployed if required.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
