Winter Maintenance in the Pyrenees

Winter maintenance interventions on roads in the Pyrenees are obviously determined by the extreme orographical and climatic characteristics of this mountain chain, where heavy snowfalls and ice formation are frequent due to the important Atlantic influence. Therefore, prevention methods and interventions to combat these adverse weather conditions must be numerous and efficient on the major roads where a level of permanent service and maximum quality is required. To avoid deficits or even excesses of interventions, it is important to use optimum dimensioning methods. This generates a high salt consumption which requires a cautious attitude against possible environmental impacts. Through a study on the influence of de-icing agents on land and water salinity carried out in the valley of the River Aragon, no negative impacts were discovered. The application of intelligent transport systems to winter maintenance in this mountainous area is very important, especially with regard to weather forecasting and systematic management, the development of which is presently a common objective in countries affected by adverse winter conditions. For the covering abstract see ITRD E143097.