Autostrada Wielkopolska is ready for winter time

For the next six months, seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 42 salt spreaders and more than 100 staff members of Autostrada Eksploatacja, the Operator of the concession section of A2 motorway will be ready to combat winter conditions. Despite the COVID pandemic, full standby status will apply at all 5 Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Centers as of 1 November.

Even though there are still almost 2 months until the beginning of calendar winter, on the concession section of A2 winter has just begun. The Operator has ordered additional weather forecasts to be able to compare them against data from the Operator's own meteo stations deployed in the entire 256 km stretch of the concession motorway and information reported by motorway patrols. All this has one goal: to be able to use the salt spreaders as soon as practicable, if need arises. In case it should turn out that the 13 thousand tons of salt deposited in salt storage locations are insufficient, additional emergency procurement of salt will be triggered.

The existing procedures stipulate that full standby status involves not only readiness of the equipment but most of all of all staff members to perform their winter duties. Despite the pandemics, additional winter maintenance tours of duty have been established so as to be able to respond without delay if need arises. More than 100 staff in 5 O&M Centers located along the concession section of A2 between Świecko and Konin are ready for action every day.

In order to mitigate the risk of COVID infection, the staff of O&M Centers have been divided into 5 groups that have no contact with one another. All this with a view to be able to commence winter maintenance as soon as practicable. We hope this special duty rota will help us work efficiently despite the continued pandemic, says Włodzimierz Matczak, Operation and Maintenance Director with Autostrada Eksploatacja.

On Polish motorways the first winter maintenance level applies. This means that the equipment is bound to appear on the road within half an hour after it starts snowing. The carriageway must be cleared from snow within 2 hours after the end of the snow fall during day time and within 4 hours after the end of the snow fall during night time. That is why it is so important to have the staff at hand to man the equipment which is ready for action.

During preventive and curative maintenance on motorways we don’t use sand but rather road salt with NaCl solution, and in temperatures below -7°C with CaCl solution. Such mix permits quick removal of the snow deposit from the road. All this to ensure maximum safety to travelers on the concession A2. However, the drivers must also help the maintenance staff. How can they do that? They should not overtake the maintenance trucks on the road, it’s as simple as that, explains Matczak.

It is very risky to overtake salt spreaders. Snow coming out from under the snow blades may not only damage your car but also push it off the road. The salt spreaders are equipped with snow blades that are even 8 meters wide. During curative maintenance runs, the trucks usually work in pairs. Such pair of salt spreaders is meant to remove snow from as much of the road surface as possible in the shortest possible time.

Salt spreaders drive up to 60 km/h. That’s why some drivers take the risk, despite the hazard, and overtake the salt spreaders in operation. One must, however, remember that the road ahead of the blade is still covered with snow and driving may be dangerous there, warns Paweł Pytliński, Safety Specialist with Autostrada Eksploatacja.

It is important that the drivers are prepared for winter, too. It is worthwhile to consider changing tires and washer fluid for winter ones. We also advise long distance travelers, no matter whether they take the motorway or backroads, to take a thermos with hot beverage with them and put a warm blanket in the trunk.

It will protect us from hypothermia if we get stuck along the road in a snow storm. When the snow is very intensive and visibility is very poor, it is worthwhile to consider taking the nearest exit to a parking place to safely wait for better weather conditions there, adds Pytliński.