Safe roads in winter: Winter service teams in action in the Salzkammergut

Safe roads in winter: Winter service teams in action in the Salzkammergut

With the arrival of winter, the winter service teams in the Vöcklabruck and Gmunden districts are ready to face the winter weather. Their job is to keep the roads safe and passable, even when snow and ice can make the paths difficult. It is a challenge that requires great commitment and the latest technology to monitor road conditions and ensure “black” roads, i.e. snow-free lanes.

In the coming months, the winter service will work tirelessly in both districts. The road maintenance departments are active around the clock in order to be able to react to changeable weather conditions. An impressive road network of almost 6,000 kilometers in Upper Austria has to be looked after. For the districts of Vöcklabruck and Gmunden, over 600 and 349 kilometers are planned for clearing and scattering in their respective regulations.

Winter service in the Gmunden district: Efficient spreading techniques

There are two central winter service locations in the Gmunden district, where a dedicated team of 20 people takes care of clearing and gritting the roads. This team is supported by a winter service coordinator who controls operations using traffic cameras and modern weather information. An important part of the work is the use of high-quality evaporated salt for spreading, which comes from Ebensee. Maintaining mountain roads such as the Großalmstraße and the Gmundnerberg, which are considered particularly challenging, is particularly tricky.

An advanced approach is to use wet salt, which involves applying a salt brine directly to the road. This method has the advantage that it reduces the consumption of road salt, improves the defrosting effect and prevents significant frost.

Vöcklabruck district: A strong team

In the neighboring district of Vöcklabruck, around 70 employees work to maintain safety standards along 493 kilometers of federal and state roads. To ensure that the streets are cleared at all times, two large bases have been set up in Vöcklamarkt and Seewalchen, supplemented by smaller depots in Schwanenstadt and Zell am Pettenfirst. There are around 2,000 tons of salt available in the region, which ensures comprehensive distribution even during heavy snowfall.

A key focus is also on the western motorway, 140 kilometers of which are managed by the Seewalchen motorway maintenance department. Wet salt is also used here, which is particularly effective in slippery conditions.

The tasks of the winter service teams are quite demanding and the stress caused by special weather phenomena should not be underestimated. It happens that so-called invasive weather conditions due to factory emissions or snow cannons in the ski areas make the snow heavier and more difficult to clear. Extreme temperatures at higher altitudes can also pose additional challenges.

For the safety of all road users, State Councilor Günther Steinkellner emphasizes the high priority of winter services. He explains: “Our road maintenance departments are ideally equipped to meet the challenges of winter.” However, drivers are urged to adapt their driving style to winter conditions and ensure their vehicles are equipped with the necessary winter equipment.

It remains to be seen what challenges the coming winter months will present to the teams in both Vöcklabruck and Gmunden. However, they are already well prepared.