Early on Wednesday morning there were no problems with the traffic, the police told NRK.
That’s what operations manager Audun Eide in the Agder police district says.
– Right now before six o’clock it is quiet and peaceful, but there have been problems on E18 all night, says Eide.
This particularly applies to side roads, roundabouts and on- and off-ramps, where cars and trains have become stuck.
He says that the advice that people should leave their cars still applies.
– There is still precipitation and wind, and plowing is to be done, says Eide, and emphasizes that this can quickly change for the worse:
– With more people and traffic on the road, we see that it causes problems with vehicles getting stuck, which in turn makes the work difficult for the ploughing. The roads can therefore be closed and only open to those who really need it.
– There is certainly a concern related to more vehicles on the roads, because there are poor driving conditions, says Eide.
At the same time, GoAhead has canceled all train departures between Oslo and Kristiansand on Wednesday.
A snowy Louise’s road in Kristiansand early Wednesday morning.
Photo: Hans Erik Weiby / NRK
Demanding conditions
Snow, wind and heavy snowdrifts make conditions on the road very demanding, writes the Norwegian Public Roads Administration in a press release. It will continue on Wednesday – so then the Swedish Road Administration asks people to leave their cars.
It is a call that the police stand behind.
– Avoid using the car if you don’t have to. It applies at least until Thursday, but there will be work for many days to come clearing snow, says operations manager Audun Eide in the Agder police district to NTB.
Snowed again
– The weather is really bad. It is very windy and rainy. It continues tomorrow. It’s really cool here now, says traffic operator Andreas Larsen to NTB.
On Tuesday evening there were problems on the E18 near Grimstad. A car and a truck had been in an accident and traffic was at a standstill. The police state that a tow truck has towed away the vehicle that was left behind.
– The road is thus open to traffic, but there is a long queue of cars, and snow has accumulated between them, the police said just before midnight – and added that a patrol tried to find a solution to the problem.
There are problems with keeping the roads open in many places. The photo was taken at the exit to Lumber in Vågsbygd in Kristiansand, where the exit at the roundabout had been plowed again early Wednesday morning.
Photo: Thomas Sommerset / NRK
– Concerned
Department director Tore Jan Hansen in the Norwegian Road Administration says there are a disturbing number of people who have chosen to drive on Tuesday, despite warnings from the police and the Road Administration.
– That’s why we repeat: Leave the car if you have no urgent need to travel on the roads in Agder tomorrow. Do not put yourself or others in a difficult situation. It will take longer than usual to get help. And help ensure that the roads are open for those who have important functions related to life and health, says Hansen.
He says there have been several incidents on the E18 between Kristiansand and Tvedestrand. This has led to blockages, major delays and, in some cases, long-term stoppages in traffic.
– We are concerned that situations may arise that are beyond our control, says Hansen.
All plow crews have been called out – and extra plow trucks have been brought in from Western Norway. But there has been a lot of snow. It has to be moved, and once it has been plowed, the wind takes hold of the snowdrifts and blows the roads again.
Can close the entire E18
The Norwegian Meteorological Institute has warned that the weather will get worse before it gradually improves. That means another day with lots of snow, strong winds and powerful snow squalls.
– The combination of these conditions affects accessibility on the roads in a very serious way – with very difficult driving conditions and poor visibility. Conditions are expected to get worse tonight and into the morning hours on Wednesday.
Traffic operator Andreas Larsen says that there was little traffic on the roads on Tuesday evening. He sees from the cameras that the road is really bad.
Hansen states that the National Road Administration may ultimately have to close all or part of the E18 through Agder.
Vågsbygd high school in Kristiansand is one of 13 high schools that are closed due to the snowy weather.
Photo: Thomas Sommerset / NRK
Closed schools along the coast
The 13 public secondary schools along the coast from Risør to Kristiansand are closed on Wednesday.
– Extremely difficult driving conditions and blocked emergency exits do not make it advisable to stay open. The schools find solutions with study days/home schooling for their pupils, says county director Arly Hauge.
In addition, primary schools are closed in Kristiansand, Birkenes, Lillesand, Grimstad, Arendal Tvedestrand and Risør.
Municipalities further from the coast have chosen to keep schools open. Among other things in Vennesla
– The conditions are worse on the coast, writes the municipality to reactions from parents who are unhappy that the schools are not closed there as well.
The following high schools are closed:
- Risør upper secondary school
- Tvedestrand upper secondary school
- Arendal upper secondary school
- Sam Eyde upper secondary school
- Dahlske upper secondary school
- Lillesand upper secondary school
- Kristiansand Cathedral School Gimle
- Kvadraturen high school
- Tangen upper secondary school
- Vågsbygd high school
- Søgne upper secondary school SMI school in Agder (pupils admitted to hospitals and institutions will be offered tuition)
- Vocational school in Agder
Kristiansand Cathedral School (KKG) on Wednesday morning. The pupils are kept at home, and work is being done on solutions for teaching via a screen.
Photo: Anna Rut Tørressen / NRK
Hey
Do you have thoughts or input on this matter? Please send me an email. We are especially looking to get in touch with people who are snowed in or experiencing other consequences of the snowy weather.
2024-01-03 04:36:53
#Snowstorm #Agder #people #leave #cars
