Traffic Wales were contacted by concerned motorists after the A55 was closed yesterday in wintery conditions
Ice and snow chaos on the A55 on Friday saw a number of drivers raise concerns over gritting on the key route. A sudden snowfall and hailstorm saw the A55 turn into an ice rink on the junctions around Bangor on Friday morning.
This led to a number of incidents on the route and then to the closure of the A55 in both directions for a period on Friday. It led to huge delays on the A55 and surrounding roads in Bangor.
There were numerous complaints from motorists about the state of the road.
One motorist Giles Pepperell – a member of the Alliance of British Drivers – contacted Traffic Wales and other authorities over the issue – copying in North Wales Live.
He said: “It would appear that, in spite of ample weather warnings, no road gritting/salting took place on Thursday January 1st, resulting in icy and dangerous road conditions today, Friday January 2nd. Consequently, it’s a shambles out there on the roads, jack-knifed lorries, etc.
A55 in snow and ice
“Is this the case, please? If so, why?”
He said there were “plenty of photos on social media around the region showing evidence that no gritting took place”.
He added: “How can this happen?” Join the North Wales Live WhatsApp community group where you can get the latest stories delivered straight to your phone
In response Traffic Wales said that “precautionary gritting” was carried out on the A55 on the evening of January 1 and again in the early hours of January 2. They said similar treatments would also have been undertaken by the relevant local authority on their road network.
They added: “It’s important to note that while gritting significantly reduces the risk of ice, it does not guarantee completely ice-free roads.
“While gritting was carried out as planned, there are circumstances where severe or rapidly changing weather conditions can significantly reduce its effectiveness. Prolonged low temperatures, snowfall or freezing precipitation after treatment, and the volume of traffic can all contribute to hazardous conditions re-forming despite preventative action having been taken. Unfortunately, gritting cannot prevent all disruption in extreme winter weather.
“We do monitor conditions continuously and work to treat the network in line with forecasts and established winter service plans. Feedback such as yours, along with reports and imagery from road users, is valuable and is shared internally to support ongoing review and improvement.”
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