6. Snow Clearance Strategy
6.1 Carriageways
On receipt of a weather forecast indicating medium to heavy snow, carriageways should be treated in accordance with section 5.3.5. When the forecast is for rain turning to snow or the snow prediction is marginal the salting operations should be delayed accordingly.
When forecasts indicate that there will be medium or heavy snow falls, the Duty Manager will instruct that all vehicles capable of being fitted with ploughing devices will be so equipped.
Salting should be continued or be restarted when snow is falling, as conditions warrant however sand / grit must be used to preserve de-icing materials until such time as it can be used effectively.
Snow ploughing will commence as soon as it is considered that the operation will be effective. Generally snow can only be ploughed effectively at depths exceeding 30mm.
Spreading treatment of ploughed surfaces will be carried out when it is considered that the material will have the most beneficial effect. The normal case on two lane carriageways will be for spreading treatment to be started when the second lane is being ploughed, generally in the return direction. However in persisting snow conditions the spreading of materials shall be delayed until clearance of accumulations is effective.
Resources should generally be allocated to clear roads in the order of priority shown in section 4, but with precedence being given to those areas which have experienced the heaviest snow falls and drifting
Where slush is formed it should be ploughed as soon as practicable to avoid the risk of rutting should there be a further significant drop in temperature which might result in freezing conditions.
Where snow hazards are predicted to persist or develop intermittently throughout the night, consideration will be given to continuing action in some circumstances. Mainly in cases where a break in operations may result in hard packed snow or other conditions difficult to treat on resumption. Individual circumstances, such as access for emergency services or other lifeline service vehicles will normally take precedent over the above route priority arrangements.
Where it is judged that a road cannot be kept open, early closure in liaison with the Police in a planned manner, should be initiated. Direct consultation at local level must be maintained where conditions are changeable and in some circumstances this may mean discussions on site between local Supervisors and Police officers.
In specific locations additional information and diversion signing will be erected to further inform drivers of the hazardous conditions on some routes and advise them of alternative routes where available resources will concentrate on maintaining treatments. There are four roads where signing to indicate specific alternative routes are available.
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A817 “Haul Rd”, Lomond, Snow gates at A82 and A814 “central” roundabout Diversion via A818 Arden - A814 Garelochhead
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C46 Glen Aros / Glenbellart road, Mull. Signs at Aros Bridge and Dervaig Primary School. Diversion via A848Tobermory
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C9 Glenfinart Road (The Larach), Cowal. Signs at Whistlefield Hotel and Sligrachan Bus turning head. Diversion via A880 Cot House
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C11 Otter Hill road (Bealach an Drain), Cowal. Signs at Glendaruel A886 and Otter Ferry B8000; Diversion via A8003 Tighnabruaich and Kames.
Road closures will be reported to the Executive Director, Head of Service, Operations and Network & Standards Managers as soon as practicable, with immediate notification transmitted to Traffic Scotland and local radio stations where appropriate.
6.2 Footways and Footpaths
Where footways and footpaths are covered with light accumulations of snow i.e. less than 30mm, treatment will consist of the application of Sand or Grit as described in section 5.4. of this document.
Where snow depths exceed 30mm, footways clearance will be carried out where practicable by pedestrian operated or ride on powered footway ploughs. This will be enhanced by manual clearance when necessary i.e. where access precludes the use of the above plant.
Snow clearance of footways will normally only be carried out during the normal working day and as resources permit.
