Magdeburg (dpa/sa) - For the motorway maintenance depots in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, winter service traditionally begins on November 1st. A spokesman for the Autobahn GmbH des Bundes announced that a total of more than 180 vehicles and around 600 employees were available for winter service in the 18 motorway maintenance departments. With 15,700 tons of salt and 850,000 liters of brine, the more than 3000 kilometers of operation are to be kept in a passable condition.
The higher elevations in the low mountain ranges regularly presented particular challenges, the spokesman said. According to the spokesman, in the event of heavy snowfall, several vehicles drive into the respective areas as a clearing squadron. The snow is first cleared and then the formation of ice is prevented with de-icing agents. "The de-icing agents develop their de-icing and drying effect best when the following traffic constantly rolls over them," said Daniel Pförtsch, head of the Weißenfels motorway maintenance department.
