Fully Prepared for Winter Conditions

From the beginning of November, 41 salt spreaders, 200 employees and 12,000 tons of salt stored in five depots along concession section of the A2 motorway are on standby, ready for the start of the winter maintenance season. Full readiness began on November 1.

Autostrada Wielkopolska, the concessionaire managing the A2 Świecko–Konin section, prioritizes driver safety and travel quality by entrusting Autostrada Eksploatacja with professional winter maintenance to ensure safe and smooth traffic flow even in harsh weather conditions.

In addition to the fleet and crews prepared for immediate action, Autostrada Eksploatacja relies on detailed weather forecasts, which are constantly compared with data from its own meteorological stations located along the 256 km stretch of Autostrada Wielkopolska, as well as reports from motorway patrols. This allows for a rapid response and timely deployment of salt spreaders whenever necessary.

According to our procedures, full readiness means not only that the equipment is winter-prepared, but also that our staff are ready for immediate action every day. Crews at the five motorway maintenance units located along the A2 from Świecko to Konin are on standby 24/7 –  explains Wojciech Martynów, Director of Motorway Operations at Autostrada Eksploatacja.

Polish motorways follow the highest winter maintenance standard. This means that maintenance vehicles must take to the road within 30 minutes of snowfall. The motorway surface must be cleared within two hours after the snow stops during the day, and within four hours at night. Ensuring sufficient staff and well-maintained equipment is therefore essential.

For preventive and active operations, we use road salt mixed with a sodium chloride brine solution. When temperatures drop below -7°C, we add calcium chloride. This mixture helps quickly clear the road surface of snow. Our goal is to guarantee maximum safety for drivers traveling on Autostrada Wielkopolska. Should the stored salt run low, we have additional emergency supplies ready to be delivered, – adds W. Martynów.

Winter readiness applies not only to road services but also to drivers. It’s essential to switch to winter tires, use winter washer fluid, keep a warm blanket in the car, and bring a thermos with a hot drink when setting out on longer trips.

These simple steps can prevent hypothermia if a driver becomes stranded due to heavy snowfall. During intense snowstorms and poor visibility, it’s often safest to pull over at the nearest rest area and wait until conditions improve, –  advises Renata Rychlewska, Press Spokesperson for Autostrada Eksploatacja.

Drivers can also support maintenance crews by following the rule: Notice ➡️ React ➡️ Slow down — and by avoiding overtaking working vehicles.

Overtaking a salt spreader is dangerous — snow thrown from the plows can damage vehicles or even push them off the road. The plows mounted on the salt spreaders can span up to eight meters, and they often operate in tandem to clear multiple lanes at once as efficiently as possible.

Salt spreaders travel at speeds of up to 60 km/h. Some drivers, despite the risks, still try to overtake them. But it’s important to remember that the road ahead of the plow hasn’t yet been cleared and may be slippery and unsafe, – warns W. Martynów.

Thanks to well-prepared equipment, trained teams, and efficient coordination, Autostrada Wielkopolska, together with Autostrada Eksploatacja, ensures driver safety and smooth traffic flow along the A2 Świecko–Konin section — even in challenging winter conditions. Continuous weather monitoring, rapid response to snowfall, and cooperation with motorway patrols demonstrate that road safety remains our top priority.

However, safety on the road also depends on driver behavior. We urge all motorists to pay attention to salt spreaders, avoid overtaking maintenance vehicles, and always follow traffic regulations. Let’s work together for a safe journey this winter.