The Government of Spain has 33 snow-removing machines to face the winter season on the roads of the State Network in Valladolid

• A 115-person device will ensure safety on the roads of the state network in the province in case of snowfall or frost or other adverse weather phenomena, from November to April. • Seven tanks and 14 silos with capacity to store 5,700 tons of solid salt and 289,000 liters of brine must be added to the 33 snow-removing machines. Citizens can count on telephone 011, the website https://infocar.dgt.es/etraffic/,, the free application of the DGT, the X @informacionDGT account and the Instagram @dgtes account, to keep themselves informed about the situations that occur and the circulation instructions in each case. Likewise, it will be reported from the X account of the Subdelegation of the Government in Valladolid @Alicante_Gob

December 4, 2023.- The province of Valladolid has 33 snow removal machines, 7 tanks and 14 silos with capacity to store 5,700 tons of solid salt and 289,000 liters of brine, which is manufactured in the 8 plants distributed by the province, and a human team composed of 115 people to face the difficulties that may occur on the roads of the state network due to the presence of ice, snow and other adverse weather phenomena. This was highlighted today by the Subdelegate of the Government in Valladolid, Alicia Villar, who chaired the coordination meeting of the Winter Road Campaign 2023-2024 in the State Road Network in the province.

Valladolid has 33 weather stations - two mobile and 31 fixed - to make the weather forecasts and be able to predict the situations and act if necessary.

In addition, the province has an automatic flux spraying system in the N-601 in the municipality of Olmedo and in the A-62, in the municipality of Tordesillas.

The Highway Demarcation’s own resources are joined by those of the concession companies for the maintenance of state-owned roads in the province.

In addition to the material means, the subdelegate has thanked the people who will support this winter campaign, drivers of snowploughing machines and other support vehicles, mechanics, communications personnel, the DGT, the Western Road Demarcation, Civil Guard, Civil Protection, Aemet, motorway concessionaires, the UME… who will ensure that “we can all travel safely on our roads” and has appealed to the responsibility, prudence and collaboration of citizens.

Points of special attention

The forecasts of the DGT in the province of Valladolid on possible conflict points in case of snowfall, point to special attention, in the A-6, between Mota del Marqués and Villardefrades, with the Alto de Almaraz, and between the border with the province of Ávila and Ataquines, as well as in the variants of Tordesillas and Medina del Campo. On the A-62, the variant of Tordesillas, the Ronda Oeste of Valladolid and the stretch between Sieteiglesias de Trabancos and Alaejos require special attention. On the N-601 the route Alicante-Villanubla-La Mudarra-Medina de Rioseco, as well as the stretch between the border of the province of Segovia and Mojados. Finally, on the N-122, the stretch between Quintanilla and the border with the province of Burgos.

In each of the four road maintenance sectors in Valladolid, provision has been made for the possible location of an Advanced Command Post, if necessary.

On the other hand, to facilitate and make more operational the establishment of the restrictions on movement, Valladolid has 39 places for parking and bagging of vehicles. In them, they will be able to park in an orderly manner the vehicles that have restricted their circulation temporarily in snowy situations.

Finally, the province has winter road emergency parking with capacity for 200 heavy vehicles at kilometer point 179 of the A-6 in Tordesillas.

Coordination

At the meeting, all the factors of the special device that the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility has designed to apply from November to April 30, 2024, on the occasion of the winter season, have been reviewed, and to ensure that the state-owned road network presents the best conditions of safety and use when affected by snow, ice or other significant adverse weather phenomena.

Together with the subdelegate, who presides over this provincial coordinating body, this committee has been attended by those responsible for the Western Road Demarcation, the Civil Guard - especially the Traffic Sector -, the National Police, the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), Civil Protection and the State Meteorology Agency (AEMET).

Protocol phases

According to the Protocol of the Subdelegation of the Government in Valladolid for the ‘Coordination of actions of the organs of the General Administration of the State before snowfall and other extreme weather situations that may affect the State Road Network in the province’, it may be declared alert, pre-emergency or emergency phase according to the weather conditions and the state of the road. Each phase has an intensity of response, of action on the part of the Government of Spain.

• The warning phase will be declared when the AEMET issues warning bulletins for snowfall with red or orange levels, or yellow for snowfall in those areas corresponding to the provincial capitals or municipalities of more than 20,000 inhabitants, as well as when advised by the assessment of the specific circumstances that concur (place, time, day of the week, etc. ).

The mere fact of activating this phase means that the Roads units mobilize their media in the area in which it is activated. Specifically, the salt spreaders and fluxes, and the snow-removing machines. It also means that the Civil Guard deploys its Traffic Personnel, as well as the preparation of the equipment of the Traffic Management Center (CGT) at the points of diversion to pocketing areas. It also means that the necessary forecasts are made in case the Executive Committee is to be brought together.

• The pre-emergency phase will be declared when the intensity of the snowfall makes it possible to foresee difficulties for the circulation or the falling snow on the road, ice or any other circumstance, effectively hinders the circulation in some section of the State Road Network.

It involves, among other measures, the permanent establishment of the Operational Coordination Centre of the Government Delegation and that of the Government Subdelegations involved, establishing the Advanced Command Posts associated with the sections of the State Road Network that due to their situation require it, with provision for support by the Civil Guard Command Forces. There are four points planned to establish these Advanced Command Posts in the province of Valladolid.

In addition, it may entail the establishment and cessation, where appropriate, of restrictions on normal driving conditions, such as circulation with chains, or the prohibition of circulation or restriction for heavy vehicles.

If the situation requires it, it will be possible to increase the deployment of Civil Guard effects to intensify the control points and the restrictive measures to the circulation and mobilize cranes to remove immobilized vehicles that hinder the actions. In case of need, the intervention of the EMU could be requested.

• When it becomes necessary to pay attention to persons who have been blocked or detained and are unable to continue their journey by their own means, the emergency phase shall be declared. In such cases, the agreement between the Delegation of the Government in Castilla y León and the Department of Environment, Housing and Land Management of the Junta de Castilla y León in the ‘Protocol for the management of the care of persons blocked or detained on roads in Castilla y León in the face of a situation declared of emergency due to adverse meteorological phenomena’ will be applied, which means an agile, simple and coordinated system to be able to assist persons who are blocked or detained in emergency situations. The details of this protocol, in its direct application to the province of Valladolid, have also been reviewed at the meeting.

Risk levels

On the other hand, the risk levels established by the DGT are the following:

• Green Level. It begins to snow. It asks for prudence and to be attentive to the meteorological part.
• Yellow Level. There is snow on the driveway. Little covered. It is requested to circulate with caution and the transit to trucks and articulates is prohibited.
• Red Level. The driveway is completely covered with snow. Passenger cars with special chains or tyres can only be driven. It is forbidden to drive to trucks, articulates and buses.
• Black Level. The road is impassable (very thick) and traffic is prohibited. Closed to traffic.

Recommendations

Before getting on the road, it is recommended to be informed about the state of the roads and the weather forecast. If it is essential to travel, the vehicle must be checked before getting behind the wheel, paying special attention to the condition of its tyres, whether it is carrying antifreeze and brakes. Drivers should make sure to bring chains and the full deposit, as well as the charged mobile phone.

It is essential to attend to the 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. Special care must be taken in tunnel exits, overtaking and crossing with heavy vehicles on two-way roads, and attention must be paid to the possible presence of obstacles or ice plates on the road.

In the case of being retained by snow, it is recommended to 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 assistance.

Information channels

Citizens count, among other means, on the phone 011, the web https://infocar.dgt.es/etraffic/, the free application of the DGT, the account of X @informacionDGT and the Instagram @dgtes, to keep abreast of the situations that occur and the circulation instructions in each case. Likewise, it will be reported from the account of X @Alicante_Gob of the Subdelegation of the Government in Valladolid