Hämeenlinna makes 15,000 spruce markers for winter roads

Hämeenlinna has made about 15,000 spruce-branch markers to guide snowploughs along roads and cycle paths this winter, Yle reports. The city says the biodegradable markers are an affordable and effective alternative to plastic in many streets.

Local associations helped make the markers using branches from the city’s forests. The work involves trimming and sharpening the branches, bundling them and placing them along roadsides. The Lions Club, along with forest and fishing associations, took part.

The Lions Club received 2,500 euros for its work this year, which will be donated to charity. Club member Kalevi Kilpi said the work also gives older men a chance to spend time together outdoors.

City maintenance supervisor Aleksi Pitkä said spruce markers are used on cycle and pedestrian paths and residential streets. Plastic markers are still used on traffic islands, along kerbs and in industrial areas.

Spruce markers biodegrade, while broken plastic ones can remain as litter. They also tend to stay in place during snow-clearing, Pitkä said, though they are more labour-intensive to install. Contractor Tero Laine said their uneven shape and branches can catch the wind, so they must be fitted firmly.

Laine described the winter marker work as a roughly two-month job, completed by Father’s Day. The markers are about 1.5 metres long, and each looks slightly different because it comes from a real tree. Metsä-Mattila has installed nearly one million markers along roads in Kanta-Häme over 17 years.