Winter Road Maintenance in Erlangen

Road Salt and People

It seems convenient: Just spread some salt, and the slippery surface disappears without the hassle of scraping away ice. But salt solutions only truly take effect when they are worked into the ice and snow. Regardless, salt damages porous and cracked road surfaces during the freeze-thaw cycle! New pavement costs unnecessary money and is hardly affordable given the strain on public finances.

Road Salt and Animals

As dog and cat owners know, the animals’ paws are affected. While it can only be assumed that road salt also affects wildlife, this has not (yet) been researched.

Road Salt and Plants

Salt solutions alter the soil structure, which harms most trees and shrubs—especially street trees. Furthermore, direct contact between saltwater and the bark of trees and shrubs has a corrosive effect, allowing salt ions to penetrate. An accumulation of salt components in plant tissue is toxic and impairs stem growth. A visible sign of salt damage to trees is discoloration of the leaves starting from the edges.

Final note: The City of Erlangen does not provide public deicing salt containers.

The maintenance of sidewalks in the event of snow, frost, or icy conditions must be carried out throughout the entire city in accordance with the “Ordinance on the Maintenance and Cleaning of Public Streets and the Maintenance of Sidewalks in Winter in the City of Erlangen,” as amended on March 16, 1984.

Pursuant to Sections 9 and 10 of this ordinance, owners of properties that border public streets within the built-up area or are accessed by such streets are required to maintain the sidewalks in a safe condition at their own expense. They must clear snow from the sidewalks on weekdays starting at 7:00 a.m. and on Sundays and legal holidays starting at 8:00 a.m., and in the event of snow, frost, or icy conditions, they must spread sand or other suitable materials, but not with salt or other corrosive substances, or to remove the ice.

These safety measures must be repeated until 8:00 p.m. as often as necessary to prevent danger to life, health, property, or possessions. The cleared snow or ice debris (cleared material) must be placed alongside the sidewalk in such a way that traffic is not endangered or impeded. Drainage channels, fire hydrants, sewer inlets, and crosswalks must be kept clear during snow removal.

For a corner lot, the area to be cleared extends to the entire portion of the sidewalk surrounding the corner lot.

Sidewalks as defined by the ordinance are

1. the paved and demarcated portions of public roads intended for pedestrian traffic, including shared bike and pedestrian paths as defined in § 41(2)(5) of the Road Traffic Regulations (StVO), or
2. in the absence of such paving or demarcation, the portions along the edge of public roads used for pedestrian traffic, with a width of 1.5 meters measured from the road property line.

Failure to provide any safety measures, or providing insufficient ones, may not only result in a fine but may also lead to liability for damages in the event of an accident.