Dutch municipalities prepare winter road maintenance services

Municipalities in the Netherlands, including Hoogeveen, De Wolden, and Stadskanaal, are preparing for the upcoming winter road maintenance season. These services aim to keep roads and bicycle paths safe from ice and snow through preventive salting.

In Hoogeveen and De Wolden, operations are scheduled to begin on November 2. The teams will utilize six trucks and seven tractors to cover approximately 165 kilometers of roads and 130 kilometers of bicycle paths. The municipalities use sensors to monitor road surface temperatures and salt levels, combining this data with weather forecasts to determine the most effective times for preventive salting.

In Stadskanaal, the winter service runs from November 1 through May 1. A team of 21 workers operates 24/7, using six vehicles to maintain roughly 350 kilometers of routes. The municipality prioritizes main roads, major cycling routes, and access to essential services such as schools and elderly care facilities. To increase efficiency, they utilize wet salt—a mixture of dry salt and brine—which allows for faster application and longer-lasting effects.