– We try to put the snow where it is the least obstacle, but somewhere or other we will have to put it and as a rule it is in the way of someone, says Joakim Hjertum of the Urban Environment Agency. Since the New Year, the snow has fallen in several rounds in the capital. Many streets and roads have become narrower and narrower due to plow edges that take up more and more space. When cars are also parked, the fire service fears that they will not arrive. Placing the blame on urban development Hjertum is responsible for snow plowing on the municipal roads in Oslo. He says that the city’s plowing crews have fewer places to clear the snow now than before. Urban development and densification are partly to blame. As examples, he points to the urban development areas of Løren and Ensjø. There used to be large industrial areas and car parks here. Things were further away from the road than today. Joakim Hjertum is section manager for road operations and maintenance in the Urban Environment Agency in Oslo municipality. Photo: Snorre Tønset / news – Now this is being rebuilt. Houses are being built next to the pavement, and there are shops, cafes and shops on the first floor with direct access from the pavements. Hjertum also points to the current use of roads. – We see that more and more public transport lanes are being created, for example, to promote public transport, and cycle lanes are being built to promote cycling, says Hjertum of the Urban Environment Agency. He also mentions wider pavements, delivery pockets, parks or seating on the pavements to create pleasant urban spaces, squares and meeting places. – The city is developing, the city must be used and it must be a living city. He believes there is a need for an infrastructure to follow this up. – Then we see that there are many different elements that have to enter the road and the snow often gets a bad place. Removal Since 2 January, the municipality has removed snow from streets in Oslo. But there is still a large accumulation of snow along many streets and roads. Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / news The work to remove the snow takes a long time, says Hjertum. – Driving away must be coordinated for the entire city. Landfill space in Oslo is limited. Before roads can be cleared of snow, they often have to be clear of cars. Then a no-parking sign must be put up. – Then we will need assistance from city officers to remove wrongly parked cars and tow trucks to remove cars that do not move themselves. When the municipality plans to remove snow from the street where you live, you can see HERE. What happens to the snow? Where possible, snow is milled into, for example, gardens or green areas, says Hjertum. – There are also some smaller snow piles here and there with local snow that are not deposited, but are handled locally in the immediate area. But the vast majority of the snow that is driven away from the road network ends up on the snow barge Terje, at Grønlikaia. He is a snow melting plant that cleans the snow that is dumped into the sea. Since 2 January, the snow barge has been in operation around the clock. Does Terje have the capacity to receive all the snow that is in Oslo’s streets now? – Yes, it accepts snow continuously, and it accepts snow as long as we need to remove snow. Sometimes the snow has to be temporarily stored before Terje has the capacity to melt it and clean it of contamination from particles, oil residues and heavy metals. – We have some defined car parks that we use for temporary storage of snow. When Oslo’s streets and roads have been cleared of snow, it is not possible to give an answer. – We drive as long as we need to, in terms of traffic safety and accessibility. – But as a rule it is usually snow-free until May 17. So before 17 May, it’s probably good here in many places, concludes Hjertum.
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That is why Oslo’s streets are crowded after the snowfall – Greater Oslo
