Use of road salt as a last resort!

Munich's Winter Woes - Road Salt to the Rescue!

After a week of relentless snowfall, Munich is grappling with the aftermath. Many streetcars are still out of service, and side streets are barely passable due to the city's struggling winter road clearance service.

In an unprecedented move, Munich's mayor, Dieter Reiter (SPD), announced the use of road salt on sidewalks as an exception until December 20th. He emphasized that salting icy surfaces at the current low night-time temperatures is the most effective measure.

Within the Mittlerer Ring and the heart of Pasing, the city will even salt the sidewalks and side streets to clear the icy surfaces as swiftly as possible.

Outside this zone, residents are allowed to spread salt as an exception, though grit is usually the only permitted substance. Reiter acknowledges gritting salt's ecological drawbacks but deems a temporary exception necessary due to the current unsafe walking conditions.

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Regional Munich news outlets reported that the use of road salt had been approved within the Mittlerer Ring and central Pasing to swiftly clear icy surfaces.

The continuing snow chaos has resulted in municipal authorities permitting the use of salt spreader vehicles outside the designated zone, though grit is generally the only authorized de-icing substance.

In light of the severe weather conditions, regional news sources underscored the importance of salt usage to ensure pedestrian safety, acknowledging that while ecologically disadvantageous, gritting alone was currently inadequate for this purpose.

Sources:

Enrichment Data (Integrated into Base Article):

1. De-icing Measures - When handling severe winter weather, cities often employ a mix of salt and other de-icing agents to clear icy surfaces. The specific methods and materials may vary depending on the weather conditions and surface types.
2. Infrastructure Maintenance - Munich, like many other cities, boasts a robust infrastructure maintenance system, ensuring regular upkeep of sidewalks, side streets, and other public spaces during winter conditions.
3. Public Services - Municipal authorities usually deploy specialized teams to manage snow removal and de-icing operations. These teams employ snowplows, salt trucks, and other equipment tailored to tackle winter weather challenges.

[1]: "Winter Maintenance and Snow Clearing in Cities" - European Environment Agency (EEA) [2]: "Managing Winter Weather in Urban Areas" - International Transport Forum (ITF)