Traffic Update: 'Staggered start' to salting of the roads across Northern Ireland today
Last updated 17th Jan 2024
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) is warning of disruption to many services it provides ahead of the day of industrial action on Thursday 18 January 2024.
Gritting staff are taking part in seven days of strike action from Thursday.
The DfI have advised people to avoid travel, if possible. A statement on social media reads: "Where people need to travel, drivers and other road users will need to take particular care on Thursday and Friday given the potential for icy conditions and ongoing disruption to gritting."
Where possible, contingency plans are being put in place. According to Trafficwatch NI's website there will be a "staggered start to salting of roads" today (Wednesday 17th January).
"In the North and West of the province salting is scheduled to begin from 2pm this afternoon with Western and Southern areas beginning from 3pm."
"Eastern areas will commence salting operations from 6pm."
"Salting operations of the Motorway network and A1 to begin from 1pm."
"Further salting of of the scheduled network is planned for this evening updates to follow"
How to drive in icy or snowy weather:
🛞 Keep well back from the vehicle in front as stopping distances can be ten times greater than on dry roads
🛞 Avoid sudden distractions as these could cause loss of control
🛞 Drive at a slow speed in as high a gear as possible; accelerate and brake very gently
🛞 Drive particularly slowly on bends where loss of control is more likely
🛞 Listen to travel bulletins and take note of variable message signs that may provide information about weather, road and traffic conditions ahead
Northern Ireland's five-day forecast 👇
Today: A bright and cold day with sunny spells and, especially for northern parts and eastern coastal areas, scattered snow showers. Best of the sunshine is expected across southern counties. Frost may persist all day in places. Mainly light northwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 2 °C.
Tonight: Further snow showers affect northern parts and eastern coastal areas this evening and overnight, with southern parts largely dry and clear. Widespread, perhaps locally severe, frost developing. Minimum temperature -6 °C.
Thursday: Another cold day with a mix of sunny spells and snow showers, the showers most frequent in the north and the best of the sunshine in the south. Northwesterly breeze. Maximum temperature 3 °C.
Outlook for Friday to Sunday: Frosty start then mainly dry Friday, but cloud and rain spreading east later. Much milder this weekend with rain, heavy and persistent at times, and, especially Sunday, potentially very windy.
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