Winter service providers will have less funds to work with, around EUR 15m. The already signed contract between the Slovenian Roads Agency and the performers of winter services has been affected by budget interventions.

Through budget amendments the state decided to interfere in the already signed contract worth EUR 20.4m between the Slovenian Roads Agency and the performers of winter services. At present the Roads Agency only has around EUR 15m for assigning winter works this season i.e for winter service costs and road salt supplies.

Less funds means enough funds only in the case of a mild winter. Judging by the weather forecast, more snowfall can be expected, especially for Thursday and until the end of the week.

According to the head of the Roads Maintenance and Safety Division at the Slovenian Roads Agency, Ljilijana Herga, if the winter conditions and increased snowfall were to continue for a whole month, or even two, there would not be enough funds to finance the winter services and the money would have to be found from other budget sources.

Under law the state is obligated to ensure the performing of winter services, which begin with the preventive salting of roads. Winter service teams then follow the forecast and changes in temperature.

Plowing begins with 3 to 5 cm of snow
"Snow plowing begins when we have from three to five centimeters of snow on the roadway. Winter services are organized in a way that every concession operator has a determined plow route. When the plowing begins, there mustn’t be more than 10 to 15 cm of snow at the end of the route, of course depending on the category of the road," said Ljilijana Herga.

Otherwise the Roads Agency takes care of around 6.000 kilometers of roads which fall into the second category of roads – main city roads and more important regional roads, which must be in drivable condition between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m.

"In snowing conditions up to two-hour delays are possible between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. on these roads in order to clear them properly. Then we have a third category of roads, which consist of the remaining regional roads, more important municipal roads, local roads, city and town roads, which have to be in drivable condition between 5 a.m. and 8 p.m. When it's snowing up to two hour delays are also possible on those roads between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m.," added Ms. Herga. There is also a 4th, 5th, and 6th category of roads, with most of them usually closed during winter.