A/S Storebælt endeavours to make the road link across Storebælt at least as safe for motorists as the rest of Denmark's motorway network. Intensive monitoring of traffic and weather conditions on the bridge, therefore, is an important part of the traffic safety system
Monitoring is centred at the so-called O room at Halsskov where the duty officers keep motorists informed by means of matrix signs. The O room also calls out road patrols in the event of emergencies. Broken down cars on the link, for instance, are quickly removed from the emergency lanes.
Matrix signs are located on the motorway sections before the bridge and on the bridge itself to provide information on special weather conditions such as high winds, ice on the carriageway or queues.
Seven weather stations are positioned along the link to gather information for wind alerts and warnings about icy road conditions. This also allows preventative measures to be initiated to deal with ice on the carriageway and high winds. In the event of particularly strong winds - above 15m per second – Storebælt recommends that wind sensitive vehicles wait at special emergency parking areas on each side of Storebælt.
Safety instructions relating to high winds on Storebælt
|
Wind (North/South) |
Information on the Storebælt bridge |
|---|---|
| High winds (10 m/sec) |
Yellow flashing lights, signs and wind cones on the bridge warn wind-sensitive vehicles of side winds. |
|
Strong breeze (15m/sec) |
Wind-sensitive vehicles (caravans and light commercial vehicles) are warned of temporary closures before the last exit. Recommended speed for other vehicles, max. 80 km/h. |
|
Fresh gale |
Wind sensitive vehicles (caravans and light commercial vehicles) are warned of temporary closures before the last exit. Recommended speed for other vehicles, max. 50 km/h. |
| Gale (25 m/sek) |
The bridge is closed to all traffic by barriers. Signs warn of the closure and expected time of reopening before the last exit before the bridge. |
