Winter services

IRCA handles and pays for all snow and ice removal on the roads it manages. In most cases, contractors carry out the services. During regular service days, we aim for completing the snow and ice removal in each region before the morning traffic starts. Work procedures, that are based on the amount of traffic and an assessment of conditions among other factors, determine how each road is serviced. For example, ice removal is not needed on all roads in the road system.

IRCA’s winter services mostly includes snow and ice removal and prevention, along with monitoring. Snow removal is a tangible task that everyone knows, however, icing and ice prevention are more complex phenomena. Icy conditions can be unpredictable and happen with short notice.

Dealing with icy conditions includes both preventative measures and actions taken after ice has formed on the roads. Methods to decrease ice formation include the clearing the road of snow, breaking up ice, and treating the road with sand or salt.

When the decision to employ preventative measures is taken there are many factors to consider. This includes taking account of both the long and short term weather forecast, road and weather conditions, and traffic flow. We at IRCA use various technologies in this regard, e.g. weather forecasts, cameras and resistance measurements, as well as sending out inspectors to assess conditions, when need be. IRCA’s watch stations, along with operating units in each region, supervise the organisation of winter services, and are available 24/7, all year round.

Obvious weather conditions that cause icy roads are snowfall, freezing rain, freezing fog, or rain falling on an icy or frosty road, even if the air temperature is above the freezing point. The more tricky conditions that result in icy roads are when water freezes on the road, low-level foggy clouds, or a fog in subzero temperatures. Hoarfrost can form in clear skies, transforming into ice crystals on the road, air that warms up to above zero temperature, and snow melting by sunlight. All of these conditions can form in a moment’s time and are unforeseeable. Some areas of the road system are more likely than others to form ice. For example, bridges, lowlands, and where woodlands cast shadows on roads, resulting in cold and wet roads that are prone to ice.

Half of the funds spent on IRCA’s winter services, is used for ice prevention (driving of trucks with plows and sprinklers.) Nevertheless, it is evident that icy roads cannot be fully prevented. Unfortunately, even with unlimited financial resources, it would not be realistic to keep the 5,000km network of winter-serviced roads clear of ice in the unpredictable weather we have in Iceland.

The role of 1777 traffic service is to provide travellers with the latest information on road conditions and weather, offer guidance and support through phone and via e-mail, provide opinions regarding exemptions to weight limits on roads, and answer questions about Loftbrú.

Service representatives closely monitor weather forecasts and road conditions, receive input from travellers, and share this information with IRCA’s watch and service stations.

1777 is open from 06:30 to 22:00 every day, year round. IRCA’s switchboard services are open on working days from 08:00-16:00.

The traffic service sends out daily notifications regarding weather and road conditions, road construction and repairs, closures, and weight limits that can affect the use of the road system.

The latest notifications can be found in umferdin.is / infotraffic.is.