Ingolstadt is preparing: 2,300 tons of road salt for the winter months!

Ingolstadt is preparing: 2,300 tons of road salt for the winter months!

Winter service preparations in Ingolstadt are in full swing because winter is just around the corner. 2,300 tons of road salt and 100 cubic meters of expanded slate are currently stored on the Ingolstädter Kommunalbetriebe (INKB) premises. This amount remains unchanged compared to last year and ensures that the city is well prepared for the coming months. These supplies are even more important, especially after the last harsh winters of 2010/2011 led to shortages.

For winter service, those responsible use a combination of salt, brine and expanded slate. While the brine, which is made from particularly pure salt, is used in mild temperatures and light snow, road salt is used in heavy snowfall. An average of 20 grams per square meter is spread. Expanded slate, on the other hand, is particularly used in dangerous areas such as bus stops to increase the safety of pedestrians.

Optimized infrastructure

What is new is the salt hall, which was put into operation at the beginning of winter and is equipped with two silos and has a capacity of 500 tons per silo. The construction of this hall cost an impressive 2.4 million euros. In contrast to the previous approach, some of the road salt is now stored in this new hall in order to improve its application options and enable a quicker response to winter conditions.

A total of 100 employees are available for winter service. These are responsible for clearing snow and ice from over 1,000 kilometers of roads and 285 kilometers of cycle paths. There are 11 teams working to clear and spread more than 2,000 danger spots by hand. The focus is clearly on the main roads, bus routes and the entrances to the clinic.

Technological support

In order to make winter service even more effective, six points in the city that are particularly vulnerable to cold were equipped with sensors that transmit temperature data via GPS. This technology not only helps to predict slippery conditions, but also supports the best possible planning of the operation. The combination of people and technology ensures that Ingolstadt remains safe even in challenging weather conditions.

With a stable price of 71 euros per ton of road salt, which has remained constant in recent years (apart from the Corona years), the financial framework is also secure. These investments in infrastructure and resources show that the city is serious about providing citizens with a navigable and safe environment even in the cold season. Whether in the streets or the parks – Ingolstadt is ready for winter!