In January, main thoroughfares and cycle paths were plowed several times more than last year

Winter January employed Imatra's Real Estate and Area Service many times over last year.

In January of this year, cycle paths and main thoroughfares were plowed at night 18 times and residential streets four times.

In January 2020, main thoroughfares were plowed three times during the night and residential streets once.

- There has been enough work. In addition to plowing, we have of course also done other maintenance work and snow plowing, work manager Kimmo Kauhanen Imatran Kiinteistö- ja Luepalvelu Oy tells about Kipa.

January's weather has been challenging for plow workers. It has snowed several times, and sometimes the temperature has risen to degrees.

- Water and sleet rain make plowmen particularly busy, because when it falls, it melts the snow already on the ground. In many cases, a couple of hours after plowing, the cycle paths have looked again as if they had not been plowed at all.

Plowing is safest at night

The streets of Imatra are divided into three categories, based on which the plowing order is determined.

Main thoroughfares and cycle paths are plowed first. The second category includes collecting streets and the third residential streets.

Plowing of streets and cycle paths is done at night and early in the morning. The fleet usually starts driving at two or three in the morning.

The goal is to have the streets plowed by the start of the morning commute.

- There is little traffic on the streets at night and plowing is safe for everyone. Of course, sometimes you also have to drive during the day and evening, says Kauhanen.

However, the length of the working day cannot be stretched indefinitely, as the drivers must also have rest time. In January, working days stretched to 18 hours at their longest.

The bike lanes are plowed with two of our own tractors and three of the subcontractor's tractors. There is a total of 130 kilometers to plow in Imatra.

- On the other hand, we have about 80 kilometers of main roads, and for them we have 2-4 cars at our disposal, depending on the situation.

GPS locators have been installed in the cars, which can be used to see afterwards where the plowing equipment has traveled at what time.

Feedback should be given online

The work will continue in February with snow removal and other works. Kauhanen reminds that it would be good to let the ploughmen do their work in peace.

-Every now and then someone comes to stop and talk to the drivers. Those are dangerous situations, so it's not a good idea to talk to the drivers while plowing.

Instead, feedback on street maintenance can be given on Kipa's website in this link or in the city's map service in this link. If it is not possible to give feedback online, you can contact the city hall's customer service by phone at 020 617 2253.

For more information:

Work Manager Kimmo Kauhanen, spring. ladleimatra.fi (kimmo[dot]kauanen[at]imatra[dot]fi), 040