The Department of Highways has activated its snow and black ice programme

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Winter is just around the corner and this period often brings with it snowfall and black ice on the 220 km of roads and 440 km of pavements and footpaths in the City of Geneva.

Significant resources deployed

Unexpected black ice or snow accumulating on the ground represents a challenge for the municipal territory: it cannot all be handled at the same time, but the Department of Highways deploys its significant capabilities in accordance with a tried-and-tested strategy, which determines how these resources are used to limit the impact on everyday life within the city.

Throughout the winter, the municipal services join forces to take action as quickly as possible to make key roads and pedestrian thoroughfares safe for use. In total, almost one hundred employees can be called on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week until the end of March.

The operational capabilities consist of forty vehicles, including thirty small vehicles intended to make public transport stops and pavements safe. Ten heavy goods vehicles, fitted with ploughs and gritters, deal with the main roads, used by the emergency services, and public transport lanes as a priority. The trucks are fitted with temperature sensors which help optimise gritting operations, thereby limiting the cost and environmental impact.

The data recorded by the meteorological stations across the municipality and detailed weather reports are consulted in order to anticipate episodes of freezing and snowfall. An operations officer is always on duty and monitors the territory within the city to detect even the slightest problem. He/she can trigger the alert very quickly in coordination with the different private operators and cantonal services.

Collaboration of citizens

While the City itself has significant operational capabilities, it also relies on the collaboration of its citizens. Building caretakers and shop tenants can help the Department of Highways by clearing snow from in front of their buildings.

Vehicle owners are requested to fit winter tyres to avoid paralysing the traffic in the event of heavy snowfall.

Correct parking essential

The Department of Highways would ask motorists to park their vehicles correctly: it is essential that cars are not parked outside the marked spaces in order to facilitate the movements of snow ploughs. Motorbikes and mopeds, etc. must not protrude into the road for the same reasons.