Local Traffic and Travel:
Some delays around Belfast tonight with the snow conditions and travelling around higher ground in the north west and north coast areas tonight..
Many routes remain closed due to snow accumulations over the past three days. The worst affected areas are the high ground in:
? Ballymoney,Moyle, Antrim and Larne and Ballymena in Northern Division
? south Down area around the Mournes and Dromara Hills in Southern Division.
? Newtownabbey,Carrickfergus,Lisburn and north Down areas in Eastern Division.
The operation of snow clearing is ongoing with Roads Service plant being deployed from other parts of the Divisions. This is backed up by approximately 135 items of large plant including track excavators, quarry shovels, snow ploughs and telehandlers provided by contractors and Rivers Agency.
Wind speeds have reduced, resulting in less snow drifting from the adjoining lands which is greatly hampering previous snow clearing operations.
In urban areas, abandoned vehicles are also hampering the snow clearing and I would ask motorists to remove abandoned vehicles from the carriageway.
Overnight, road surface temperatures are expected to fall below freezing and there is a risk of snow flurries. Salting is currently underway on some routes and further salting is expected to follow on main routes likely to be affected. Clearing of snow will also continue overnight in the areas listed above and some further routes are expected to be open to traffic by morning.
Drivers are advised to exercise extreme caution, allow additional travel time and avoid unnecessary journeys.
Road Service Update:
Roads Service would appeal to the owners of vehicles parked alongside those main routes where snow clearance operations are required/ongoing to move their vehicles sufficiently to allow clearance machinery to pass and operate safely. We are currently experiencing difficulties with parked vehicles in several areas and on the Ligoniel Road Belfast in particular where we are responding to requests to have it cleared. Having to work close to and around parked vehicles both increases the time taken to clear roads and leaves a reduced width available for road users. In some instances it has not been possible to continue past parked vehicles and the clearance operation has had to be suspended. Your cooperation is much appreciated during this very difficult time.
Many routes remain closed due to snow accumulations over the past three days. The worst affected areas are the high ground in:
? Ballymoney,Moyle, Antrim and Larne and Ballymena in Northern Division
? south Down area around the Mournes and Dromara Hills in Southern Division.
? Newtownabbey,Carrickfergus,Lisburn and north Down areas in Eastern Division.
The operation of snow clearing is ongoing with Roads Service plant being deployed from other parts of the Divisions. This is backed up by approximately 135 items of large plant including track excavators, quarry shovels, snow ploughs and telehandlers provided by contractors and Rivers Agency.
Wind speeds have reduced, resulting in less snow drifting from the adjoining lands which is greatly hampering previous snow clearing operations.
In urban areas, abandoned vehicles are also hampering the snow clearing and I would ask motorists to remove abandoned vehicles from the carriageway.
Overnight, road surface temperatures are expected to fall below freezing and there is a risk of snow flurries. Salting is currently underway on some routes and further salting is expected to follow on main routes likely to be affected. Clearing of snow will also continue overnight in the areas listed above and some further routes are expected to be open to traffic by morning.
Drivers are advised to exercise extreme caution, allow additional travel time and avoid unnecessary journeys.
Road Service Update:
Roads Service would appeal to the owners of vehicles parked alongside those main routes where snow clearance operations are required/ongoing to move their vehicles sufficiently to allow clearance machinery to pass and operate safely. We are currently experiencing difficulties with parked vehicles in several areas and on the Ligoniel Road Belfast in particular where we are responding to requests to have it cleared. Having to work close to and around parked vehicles both increases the time taken to clear roads and leaves a reduced width available for road users. In some instances it has not been possible to continue past parked vehicles and the clearance operation has had to be suspended. Your cooperation is much appreciated during this very difficult time.
