Drivers warned as ice coats Sweden's roads
TT/The Local/pvs - [email protected]
Published: 25 Dec, 2013 CET.
Updated: Wed 25 Dec 2013 09:08 CET
Swedish authorities have warned road users in northern Sweden to use extreme caution as recent unstable weather has left roads treacherously icy.
The coast of Norrland is particularly exposed with the Transport Administration (Trafikverket) warning of icy roads in Västerbotten and Norrbotten on Christmas Day. On some roads, the agency warned drivers to cut speeds down to as low as 10 kilometres/hour. The recent mild weather has brought with it rainfall and followed by sudden drops in temperature the problem has been accentuated. "There is sleet on the roads in these areas and it can get very slippery. It can also be frozen on the roads after it has rained and then got colder," said Beisi Sundin at the the Swedish Transport Administration. "You have to really slow down, perhaps to as low as 10-15 km/h. You can't be in a hurry in the traffic today, make yourself aware of the conditions and then adapt your speed," he said. Inland roads can also be very slippery with layers of packed snow. Farther north, in the mountain areas , the E10, E12 and route 95 were shut down on Christmas Day morning after yesterday's strong winds formed drifts of snow and ice. According to the Transport Administration it is expected that the most acute risk of slippery roads will decrease somewhat during the day. Strong winds have also caused transport problems in other areas of Sweden. In Västra Götaland several trees have fallen and are blocking roads. "You have to be very observant. Major interruptions include road 785 in the municipality of Lysekil and on the E20 between Hol and Bäne," Beisi Sundin said. Strong winds on the Öresund bridge led to advice that wind sensitive vehicles should avoid the route on Christmas Eve. Flooding in Höganäs in southern Sweden left large amounts of water on roads such as 1451 between Jonstorpsvägen and Molle. Road 172 between Bengtsfors and Lofterud and the 941 in Munkedals municipality were also affected by flooding on Tuesday.
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The coast of Norrland is particularly exposed with the Transport Administration (Trafikverket) warning of icy roads in Västerbotten and Norrbotten on Christmas Day.
On some roads, the agency warned drivers to cut speeds down to as low as 10 kilometres/hour.
The recent mild weather has brought with it rainfall and followed by sudden drops in temperature the problem has been accentuated.
"There is sleet on the roads in these areas and it can get very slippery. It can also be frozen on the roads after it has rained and then got colder," said Beisi Sundin at the the Swedish Transport Administration.
"You have to really slow down, perhaps to as low as 10-15 km/h. You can't be in a hurry in the traffic today, make yourself aware of the conditions and then adapt your speed," he said.
Inland roads can also be very slippery with layers of packed snow. Farther north, in the mountain areas , the E10, E12 and route 95 were shut down on Christmas Day morning after yesterday's strong winds formed drifts of snow and ice.
According to the Transport Administration it is expected that the most acute risk of slippery roads will decrease somewhat during the day.
Strong winds have also caused transport problems in other areas of Sweden.
In Västra Götaland several trees have fallen and are blocking roads.
"You have to be very observant. Major interruptions include road 785 in the municipality of Lysekil and on the E20 between Hol and Bäne," Beisi Sundin said.
Strong winds on the Öresund bridge led to advice that wind sensitive vehicles should avoid the route on Christmas Eve.
Flooding in Höganäs in southern Sweden left large amounts of water on roads such as 1451 between Jonstorpsvägen and Molle.
Road 172 between Bengtsfors and Lofterud and the 941 in Munkedals municipality were also affected by flooding on Tuesday.
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