Authorities mixing sand with salt to make it last

Roads chiefs have ordered local authorities to mix salt with coarse sand so that supplies can be maintained for the next two weeks.

With a substantial thaw in the Midlands and East not expected until at least late next week, transport bosses warned some rural areas may not be treated over the next 48 hours.

The National Roads Authority (NRA) called for the salt-sand mix to effectively double supplies amid fears demand would not be met next week when tens of thousands of commuters attempt to get back to work.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen praised the efforts of all workers helping to keep the country moving in the hazardous weather conditions.

“It is at times like these that the true sense of public service shines through. I believe it is important that these efforts are acknowledged,” Mr Cowen said.

Met Eireann warned of severe frost and ice developing through the night on already compacted snow.

Five times the usual amount of salt has already been used on some roads over the last week, according to NRA spokesman Sean O’Neill.

Although there are 30,000 tonnes of salt in the country Mr O’Neill said the NRA has taken the precaution of asking councils to use the 50-50 mix and conserve stocks for the next delivery in a fortnight’s time.

“We have to deal with it on a day-to-day basis. This is obviously a strategic move on our part to make sure local authorities are able to keep roads open,” he said.

Any hopes the weekend might bring some light relief in the capital were dashed after Dublin Bus announced its Nitelink service had been cancelled.

The freeze also wreaked havoc with sporting fixtures with all the weekend’s GAA matches, horse racing at Navan, Punchestown and Clonmel and some rugby cancelled.

St Stephen’s Green in Dublin will be closed all weekend amid safety fears.

Wicklow County Council has begun rationing water to conserve supplies.

Some parts of Leinster, including Dublin city and Kildare, experienced a slight thaw in the mid-afternoon but minor improvements on roads soon gave way to rapidly falling temperatures.

The Defence Forces deployed more than 750 soldiers and 150 vehicles in 187 operations to support civilian operations and humanitarian assistance this week due to the bad weather.

Forecasters said showers will move across the country from the west overnight, falling as snow on high ground and in inland counties.

The midlands and south Ulster are expected to fair the worst but any rain will freeze when it lands in temperatures as low as -6C.

Met Eireann’s chief forecaster Gerald Fleming revealed severe lows of -12.9C in Carlow last night and -15.3C in Casement Aerodrome, Dublin.

The airstrip also measured 21cm of snow last night – the third highest on record behind only the extreme winters of 1978-79 and 1962-63.

“This gives some idea of the exceptional conditions we are facing,” Mr Fleming said.

Iarnrod Eireann said Intercity, Dart and commuter routes were operating but could face delays.

Bus Eireann cancelled night line services but the vast majority of routes remained open with some diversions to avoid ice bound and hilly roads.

Dublin Bus said due to icy road conditions a number of routes throughout the city faced diversions or restrictions.

Luas trams are operating on both the red and green lines but selected stations are closed, with coaches drafted in to ferry passengers.

Trinity College was forced to close its grounds to the public mid-afternoon, with undergraduate, postgraduate courses and evening lectures and seminars cancelled.

The college will remain closed over the weekend, with only residents and essential staff allowed in.

Eircom said it was dealing with 3,800 reported faults.