Every year, the specialists of timber harvesting and forest supply service face the challenge of organizing uninterrupted and safe delivery of wood to the enterprise. One of the key activities is the preparation and opening of ice crossings over rivers.
On January 23, two ice crossings of JSC “Solikamskbumprom” with a carrying capacity of 45 tons were opened. An expert assessment was given by the acceptance commission consisting of representatives from the Solikamsk Municipal District Administration, the State Inspectorate for Small Vessels (GIMS), and the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate (GIBDD).- Today, the final inspection of the ice crossings over the Kama and Volozhka rivers was carried out. The construction requirements were met in accordance with the governing documents. The opinion of the acceptance commission is that the crossing can be operated with the declared design load capacity of 45 tons, - commented Anatoly Kibukevich, inspector of the Solikamsk section of the GIMS Center of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations for Perm krai.
- The crossings that pass across the Kama and Volozhka rivers play a key function in winter wood hauling. These facilities allow reducing the transportation distance of cargo by almost 80 km, significantly saving fuel and working time. For our company, this measure is crucial, given the need to transport large volumes of raw materials, - comments Vladimir Anisin, the director of timber harvesting and forest supply.
Roman Belkin, a traffic safety engineer of the timber truck workshop, told the editorial team about the construction of the crossings:
- We open these crossings every year. The preparations were carried out by employees of the contractor, Vishera Lesotorgovaya Baza LLC. I'd like to point out that the success of the process largely depends on climate conditions. For example, last year, due to a mild winter and loose ice, the crossing's carrying capacity had to be limited to 35 tons. Consequently, timber trucks were allowed to travel in one direction—empty. When loaded, they returned by road. However, under favorable conditions, as they are now, the required ice thickness was achieved quite quickly. According to measurements, the ice thickness at the crossings was at least 110 cm.
As the specialist explained, the technology of ice thickening is quite simple but requires strict adherence. Work at the future crossing site begins when the ice on the river reaches 40 cm. Then, six-meter logs are laid, tied together, and a wheel treadway is placed on top of them. This entire structure is fastened into a single unit, and only then does the ice-making process begin. The process goes gradually: in one day during severe frost, the ice grows up to 5 cm. During a thaw, the work is suspended – the ice must be strong and dense.
- But the work on the crossings does not end there, - noted the Traffic Safety Engineer. - Now, rescue sailors will conduct constant monitoring and control of the ice thickness - both crossings are equipped with regulatory and rescue posts, with round-the-clock duty organized there. Depending on the temperature regime, ice control will be intensified. If it warms up to 0°C or +5°C, measurements will be taken three times a day. We plan to operate the crossing until the end of March.