Frequently asked questions - Winter Maintenance
With the first snow we receive lots of questions regarding the winter maintenance service:
When's to salt? Which roads are salted? Who else clears roads and parking lots?
When does Winter Maintenance Service start?
Snow clearing, gritting and salting commence when snow falls and continues to fall. (or if the risk of icy roads is given) The Technical Service of the town Herrenberg starts its work in the mornings at 5:00am to ensure, that the roads are cleared before commuter traffic at 7:00am. According German Law all roads have to be cleared on weekdays in the time from 7:00am to 8:00pm.
In case of severe weather or heavy snow fall an emergency team will take care of extra clearing and salting services.
Which streets will be cleared and salted?
First priority according German Law is given to the clearing of the most important pedestrian crossings.
It is the city council's aim to minimise delays and accidents caused by snow, frost or icy roads and we attempt to ensure that all major roads, important bus routes and roads in public traffic leading to industrial estates and outlying communities, are cleared and salted as first priority. After this the side roads will be cleared and salted, although this operation is not involved in the performance in duty of the urban technical service.
If snowfall starts in late afternoon delays in traffic cannot be avoided. Thanks for understanding! In emergency cases during rush-hour times, further delays in traffic have to be calculated
When does Winter Maintenance salt the roads?
Only major roads and buslines will be salted. In case of slipperiness on side roads, salting will only be provided in special cases. The town Herrenberg provides a so called 'differentiated winter maintenance': Road clearing with following salting starts if there is 3cm snow on the roads. A environmentally sound operation. It was in the 80ies that 30-40 gramme salt was used per squaremeter today it is reduced to 10-15 gramme per squaremeter during same weather conditions
How do the Technical Services prepare for Winter Maintenance?
The town Herrenberg is connected to a special road service of the German Weather Forecast Centre. The centre provides information on regular terms. During the winter maintenance period a specialist of the Technical Service Team controls the current weather conditions every morning at 4:00am. In case of necessary operation the specialist sends an alert to his colleagues and punctually at 5:00am winter maintenance starts.
What are the duties of the citizens in winter?
Residents must keep the sidewalks abutting their property clear of ice and snow. Sidewalks must be cleared for a minimum width of 1 meter. Clearing and gritting has to be settled on working days until 7:00am, on Sundays and bank holidays until 8:00am. The sidewalk must be kept cleared and gritted until 8:00pm. Due to environment protection salting is not allowed on sidewalks.