AQW 20106/22-27 Written question to the Minister for Infrastructure
To ask the Minister for Infrastructure to detail the current criteria being used to decide which rural roads are included in a gritting schedule.
Asked by Sian Mulholland MLA on 7 January 2025
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 7 January 2025
- Answer due by
- 22 January 2025
- Answered
- 22 January 202515 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for Infrastructure
- Priority question
- No
Answer
The current winter service policy and procedures operated by the Department utilises the widely accepted practice of targeting limited resources for this service on the higher trafficked main through routes and can be viewed on the Departments website below.
https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/publications/winter-service-rsppg-e022
The application of this policy means that 28% of the total road network, which carries around 80% of traffic, is salted. It must, however, be emphasised that the service provided cannot eliminate the risks and even on roads that are gritted, ice free conditions cannot be guaranteed.
As road users we all need to be mindful of the road conditions and adjust the way we drive, ride or cycle and during particularly wintry conditions people.