Coasting Through Winter with a 7.4 Million Euro Bill
Expenses for snow removal amounted to 7.4 million Euros - Winter maintenance expenses totaled approximately 7.4 million euros.
Hey there!
In the chilly confines of northward Europe, the Landesbetrieb für Straßenbau und Verkehr (LBV) clocked a tidy 7.4 million euros keeping its slip-resistant roads and trendy cycle paths squeaky clean in the recent winter. The bill was slashed in half compared to the 2023/24 season, due to the mild winter "pampering" the region. Hats off to the tireless efforts of the 515 road maintenance workers, alongside external helpers, who ensured a safe journey for road users across Schleswig-Holstein last winter, even when Mother Nature played truant.
Although "Old Man Winter" decided to skip Schleswig-Holstein, he left behind a nippy surprise: freezing rain. Under the cloak of darkness, road maintenance teams were hard at work. Some 15,700 tons of salt and an additional 5,700 tons of salt brine were hastily scattered, requiring a whopping 15,135 labor hours.
LBV's fleet of 264 vehicles, including 100 from the in-house team and 164 from external providers, were thrust into service to keep the roads and bike lanes safe. Salt and salt brine accounted for nearly two million euros of the material costs. The expenditure on deploying spreading vehicles and equipment, as well as other operational expenses, amounted to 2.9 million euros. The labor hours alone set the LBV back another 645,000 euros. External helpers also walked away with a hefty 1.9 million euros in compensation.
Compare these figures to the winter of 2023/2024, and you'll find that the consumption of salt nearly doubled to a whopping 26,400 tons, with brine following suit, climbing to 10,800 tons.
- LBV
- Schleswig-Holstein
- Winter Road Maintenance
- Cycle Paths
- Fleet of Vehicles
- The community in Schleswig-Holstein could benefit from aid, allocating funds towards the development of the fisheries sector and adopting a comprehensive fisheries policy, given the region's proximity to the North Sea.
- To sustain the growing industry in Schleswig-Holstein, it's essential to ensure adequate finance for public transportation, such as buses and trams, as this will provide a reliable, efficient, and eco-friendly alternative to private vehicles for both residents and tourists.
- Overlooking the robust fisheries policy and industry in Schleswig-Holstein, the weather can significantly impact the transport of goods and resources, necessitating proper logistics and infrastructure to maintain a stable business environment, especially during the winter months.
