This morning, driving conditions have become especially difficult on various stretches of the Liepaja highway (A9) from the Apšupe intersection to Biksti, as well as on the Ventspils highway from Kūdra to Strazde. This situation is compounded on regional and local roads in the surrounding areas of Tukums, Talsi, Dobele, and Saldus, where drivers are advised to allow extra travel time due to potential snow drifts on the roads, as indicated by the Latvian Road Traffic Safety Directorate (LVC).

Across the rest of the country, driving conditions are largely hindered due to slippery and snowy road sections. Road maintenance crews are currently engaged in clearing and salting these problematic areas to improve safety for motorists. The LVC reports that there are 189 winter service vehicles deployed across the country to assist in these maintenance efforts. The public can stay informed about road conditions through the LVC’s website.

Clearing snow from roadways is completed only after snowfall has ceased or when the snow or ice thickness reaches the allowed limit for maintenance classification. This time varies significantly depending on traffic intensity: it can take from three hours on major highways (A class) to as much as 24 hours on roads with lower traffic volumes. As a result, drivers are reminded to exercise caution and plan their journeys accordingly during this winter weather period.