Winter service in action against freezing rain and snowfall
17.01.2024 – Despite the severe weather warning from the DWD, traffic on Offenbach's roads is flowing on Wednesday: the roads are clear, but it is noticeable that there are fewer cars on the road than usual. The buses are running according to plan and are well occupied - citizens have obviously taken the storm warning to heart and left their cars at home wherever possible.
Manual crews in action with gritting material
Around 100 Stadtservice employees were on duty from mid-morning onwards on Wednesday to keep heavily frequented footpaths, main roads and cycle paths in Offenbach free of ice. The so-called manual teams gritted traffic light crossings, crosswalks, bus stops, stairs and other areas in public spaces that are heavily frequented by pedestrians when it starts to rain - this is to prevent the surfaces from freezing over when the frost sets in. Grit is mainly used as a gritting agent, with road salt being used in particularly dangerous areas.
Safety shoes with a strong profile ensure that winter service employees do not slip themselves and that they move around on the already gritted areas as much as possible.
Six sweepers keep the roads clear
Two small and four large spreaders are used on the main roads and cycle paths. They spread salt and brine to minimize the risk to motor vehicles and cyclists.
Winter service prepares for night shift
Other employees are on standby to help cover the night shift today. The weather service is forecasting heavy snowfall for the winter service dispatchers from around 2 am. Then snow clearing teams will go out to keep the roads clear for buses, cabs, ambulances and other road users. If the snowfall continues, the roads may snow up again, but at least the first quantities of snow have already been cleared away.
Winter service has priority
Winter road maintenance serves to reduce hazards for road users and has top priority over all other tasks. If the emergency teams are out and about in the city until 10 p.m., they must be able to rest for 11 hours afterwards according to the law. If it starts to snow at night and everyone has to move out, other tasks take priority the next morning. For example, the city center may not be cleaned up until three hours later the next morning.
If it snows again in the morning, there is an exception to the rule that people can go out to clear the snow again - the duty to ensure road safety then takes priority.