November 21, 2023.- The Government of Spain has 98 snowploughs in Segovia to face the winter season in the 376 kilometers of the State Road Network in the province. More than 600 people work in this campaign’s winter roadway, which has 13 ships and 16 silos, with capacity to store 11,975 tons of salt; 12 brine manufacturing plants; and 29 tanks for 956,000 liters of brine.
The subdelegate of the Government, Marian Rueda, has contributed these data today at a press conference, before chairing the Coordination Committee of the winter roadway protocol 2023-2024 in the province of Segovia. The device has personnel from the Civil Guard, the Police Station, the Armed Forces, the Provincial Traffic Headquarters, Civil Protection of the General Administration of the State, the Road Unit of the Ministry of Public Works, Montes de Valsaín, the Subdelegation, Castellana de Autocarriles, Tragsa, UTE Segovia02, Autovía de Arlanzón and UTE Somosierra 2021, who participated in the meeting of the commission this morning.
The deputy delegate of the Government remarked that “the General State Administration (AGE) has the winter road device fully prepared to intervene when snowfall and other adverse weather phenomena occur.”
“The operation has the objective of avoiding or reducing to a minimum the stretches of roads with traffic restrictions or retentions, and their duration, and above all to ensure attention to people, if necessary,” says Marian Rueda.
The winter road protocol aims to strengthen the systems of coordination between the organs of the General Administration of the State in the province, to ensure the road in the State Road Network in case of snowfall and other extreme weather phenomena.
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The deputy delegate stressed that “in this campaign, the means have been increased to deal more safely with the adverse situations that we may face”. Thus, there are seven snowploughs that are incorporated into the device, to add up to 98; two silos; and two tanks, thus increasing their capacity by 13,000 liters of brine.
Meanwhile, Marian Rueda asked citizens “to inform themselves before going out on the road to avoid the affected roads or to prepare sufficiently to deal with the adverse phenomena.”
On the other hand, he considered “fundamental the coordination of all the administrations involved in the winter road (municipalities, Diputación, Junta de Castilla y León…)”.
It should be remembered that the reference threshold values for warnings corresponding to the province of Segovia are:
| COLOUR | WIND | RAIN | SNOW | Tª Mín | STORMS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YELLOW | Maximum Run: Plateau: 70 km/h S. Central: 80 km/h | 40 mm/12h 15 mm/ 1h | Plateau: 2cm/24h S. Central: 5cm/24h | -6ºC | Widespread storms with the possibility of development of organized structures. Lluvias localmente fuertes y/o vientos localmente fuertes y/o granizo inferior a 2cm. |
| ORANGE | Maximum Run: Plateau: 90 km/h S. Central: 100Km/h | 80 mm/12h 30 mm/ 1h | Plateau: 5cm/24h S. Central: 20cm/24h | -10ºC | Very organized and widespread storms. It is possible that locally very strong rains and/or locally very strong winds and/or hail greater than 2 cm can be recorded. The appearance of tornadoes is also possible. |
| RED | Maximum Run: Plateau: 130 km/h S. Central: 140 km/h | 120 mm/12h 60 mm/1h | Plateau: 20cm/24h S. Central: 40cm/24h | -14ºC | Highly organized storms. The probability of locally torrential rains and/or locally very strong winds and/or hail greater than 2 cm is very high. The appearance of tornadoes is likely. |
Alert, pre-emergency and emergency
According to the protocol, when snow can affect state roads:
- The Warning Phase is declared when AEMET issues warning bulletins for snowfall with yellow (allowing to foresee risks on the road), orange or red levels. The fact of activating this phase implies that the Road Demarcation Units reinforce the means in the meteorological prediction zone for which it is activated, among them, salt spreaders and foundations or snow removal machines. At the same time, the Civil Traffic Guard reinforces its deployment, and at the same time the members of the Executive Committee of the Government Delegation are alerted, to which for the first time a representative of the Junta de Castilla y León is incorporated, which will make coordination between administrations more effective.
- The Pre-Emergency Phase is declared when the intensity of the snowfall makes it possible to foresee difficulties for the circulation or when the falling snow, ice or other circumstance, de facto hinders the circulation. In this phase, the establishment and cessation of traffic restrictions is carried out in coordination with the General Directorate of Traffic and the Civil Traffic Guard.
- The Emergency Phase is declared when it is necessary to pay attention to people who have been blocked or detained and cannot continue their journey by their own means.
Each phase has a response from the Government of Spain to act with less or greater intensity.
The risk levels established by the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) are:
- White: all vehicles can circulate without restriction.
- Green: it begins to snow, prudence is requested; although the circulation is not affected, it is recommended not to exceed the speed of 100 km/h on motorways and motorways and 80 km/h on other roads; the sets of vehicles and trucks with maximum authorized mass greater than 3,500 are prohibited overtaking and must circulate in the right lane.
- Yellow: the driveway begins to cover itself with snow and trucks and articulated vehicles can no longer travel; cars and buses must travel at most 60 km/h.
- Red: the road is completely covered with snow and circulation is only possible by using special chains or tyres, at a maximum speed of 30 km/h; the circulation of buses is prohibited.
- Black: the road is impassable for any type of vehicle, and there is a clear risk of being immobilized on the road for prolonged periods of time.
With regard to emergency parking on State roads for traffic restrictions, there are 63 areas available in the province, with more than 4,000 seats for heavy vehicles.
RECOMMENDATIONS
- Before getting on the road, it is recommended to be informed about the state of the roads and the weather forecast. If traveling is a must, check your vehicle before getting behind the wheel, the condition of your tires, whether you are wearing antifreeze and brakes. Make sure you carry chains and the full deposit, as well as the charged mobile phone.
- Attend to traffic signs and, already in circulation, drive concentrated on the road, without distractions and trying to anticipate the reactions of the car in an adverse environment. Take special care in tunnel exits, overtaking and crossing with heavy vehicles on two-way roads, and pay attention to the possible presence of obstacles or ice plates on the road.
In the event of being retained by snow, leave the vehicle parked on the roadsides, leaving the central part of the road expedited to facilitate the passage of emergency vehicles and snowploughs. Try to report this fact and, unless the situation is unsustainable, wait for help.