The Government Delegation in Asturias has activated the warning phase of the Winter Road Plan for the State Road Network once the State Meteorological Agency has activated a yellow snow warning in the mountain range from 19 hours and at a height of 1,100 meters.
This has been announced by the delegate of the Government, Adriana Lastra, after meeting with representatives of the Government of the Principality, Civil Guard, Provincial Traffic Headquarters and State Road Demarcation in Asturias, and constituting the coordination center of which all are part and which the delegate presides.
The warning phase involves the deployment and mobilization of snow removal and salt spreading machines. In this case, for the N-630, six snow-removing machines, a turbomilling machine and a loading shovel are always available in the wintry centre of Pajares. A service that will be reinforced with four more snow-removing machines.
As a result of the landslide on the AP-66 that has forced the total cut of the motorway, the N-630 has become the main communication route between Asturias and the plateau. Therefore, the Government delegate has asked road users to be attentive to the social networks of the Government Delegation, the DGT, Aemet and 112 Asturias to obtain updated information on the state of the roads.
And he recalled the alternative itineraries proposed by the DGT since yesterday: on the A-8 towards Cantabria or towards Galicia and from there, either on the A-67 or the A-6 to reach the central area of the country.
“When it starts to snow we will restrict the access of heavy vehicles to the N-630,” Lastra emphasized, “to avoid traffic problems in the port of Pajares.” To this end, the Civil Traffic Guard will establish controls for regulation and assistance in the new parking for heavy vehicles of Lena - still not inaugurated but which is fully operational - in Campomanes and in the highest area of the port. It is recommended that vehicles travelling on the N-630 do so with special chains or tires and also that vehicles transporting vulnerable personnel, young children, the elderly or the sick do not circulate.
Winter Road Plan Operating Procedures
The protocol establishes the operating procedures according to the phases of evolution of the situation, according to the following criteria:
Alert phase. It begins when the Territorial Delegation of the AEMET issues a bulletin of warning for snowfall or other adverse weather phenomena of red, orange or yellow levels. It involves the deployment and mobilization of snow removal and salt spreading machines. The Government delegate is the Coordinating Centre. This phase will be terminated when the circumstances that gave rise to it cease or when the situation makes it necessary to move to the Pre-Emergency phase.
Pre-Emergency Phase. It is activated when the intensity of the snowfall makes it possible to foresee difficulties for the circulation or when the falling snow, ice or other circumstance, hinders the transit of vehicles. At this stage, in addition to the Alert Phase, traffic restrictions are carried out in coordination with the General Directorate of Traffic and the Civil Traffic Guard and according to the parameters of the color levels established by the DGT in case of snow on the road.
Emergency Phase. In force when it is necessary to pay attention to people who have been blocked or detained and cannot continue their trip by their own means. In addition to the actions described for the previous phases, the means of the General Administration of the State that can contribute or provide adequate care to the occupants of vehicles that have been blocked on the road are made available to the competent civil protection body of the Autonomous Community.