Lapland ELY Centre investigates road maintenance amid freezing conditions in Rovaniemi

The Lapland Centre for Economic Development, Transport, and the Environment (ELY Centre) is investigating whether road maintenance was adequately managed during hazardous freezing conditions experienced on Sunday and Monday. Following a serious incident on Route 4, a report will be submitted to the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency, and a review is set to occur in January with contractors.

Kari Parikka, head of maintenance at the Lapland ELY Centre, noted that initial information suggests that anti-icing measures were effectively initiated around 2 PM Sunday in Rovaniemi. However, rain followed swiftly after a cold snap, creating particularly dangerous driving conditions, which Parikka described as chaotic. There were reports that the contractor had run out of sand for de-icing.

Collaboration among contractors in different regions was notably limited, leading to inconsistencies in road treatment at regional borders, which contributed to fluctuating road conditions. Parikka indicated that such cross-regional assistance between contractors is seldom practiced.

In emergency situations, the ELY Centre can request contractors to assist in neighboring areas. On Sunday, police from Sodankylä requested help as a sand truck was impeded by a stuck truck, but the assistance was later canceled as the vehicle was removed.

The situation escalated when rain fell heavily shortly after the freeze, complicating efforts to manage the icy roads effectively. These challenging conditions are typical during winter, but this instance was exceptionally severe yet brief. By Tuesday, conditions improved, allowing school transportation in Rovaniemi to return to normal after many students had to stay home the previous day due to road safety concerns. Sunday night was reportedly the most dangerous period, particularly on Route 4, where many vehicles skidded off the road.