Winter Roads in the Waitaki District
Published on 08 July 2022
Waitaki District Council is responsible for the maintenance of local streets and roads, this includes responding in the case of a snowfall.
This June saw snow fall in Omarama township and surrounds which is not uncommon during the winter months. During this time, the Waitaki District Council call centre received a report that did not require an immediate response. Roads at Omarama were inspected by the Waitaki District Council during the snow fall on two consecutive days with one inspection coinciding with the snow stop 12-hour period. The roads inspected were thawing and passable at that time.
“Snow clearing decisions are not an exact science. If we begin clearing too soon, it slows the thaw and can increase the time of the hazard and the snow windrowing creates a new hazard. Clearing too late has the traffic packing the snow to ice. As an employer we consider the safety of the work crews as well as the public before, during and after the weather event”. Said WDC Roading Manager, Mike Harrison.
When a snow fall warning is received, the maintenance contractor prepares the response equipment and moves them to areas that ensure they can be accessed after a snow fall. During June’s snow fall, the crews which would have responded had this equipment in place and on standby ready for action if required.
From there the decision process following a snow fall event is:
1. Snow clearing commences on instruction once snow has not fallen for 12 hours, and not expected in the next 24 hours.
2. Inspections are undertaken as conditions permit during the immediate snow fall cessation,
3. A second inspection is undertaken during the snow clearing coincided to view the thaw and possible ice creation
4. During the thaw period the volume of water released from snow makes gritting ineffective.
5. We are cautious with earlier snow clearance that could create more Ice and extended the hazard time for the road network.
Danseys Pass Rd is usually the first road affected in Waitaki; however, this is often due to the Central Otago side closing.
Any report (a snow event or otherwise) can be made to the Waitaki District Council on 03 433 0300 or freephone 0800 108 081. You can also report via smart phone app Snap, Send, Solve (send the information from the actual location as the GPS data helps us find the location).