Andorra's COEX Ends Intense Winter Road Maintenance After 181 Days and Record Snowfall

The COEX has concluded its winter road maintenance season after 181 days of snow clearance operations, during which it activated 425 snow phases across Andorra's road network.

The Conservation and Road Exploitation Area (COEX) cleared 184,000 km of general and secondary roads, along with nearly 90 km of interurban pavements. This marks a substantial increase from recent years, when figures hovered around 100,000 km. Snow accumulation at the Port d'Envalira summit reached 9-10 metres, roughly double the 5 metres recorded previously. David Palmitjavila, director of the Territory department and head of COEX, described the season as a return to "normality" for Andorra after several winters with lighter snowfall.

The 425 snow phases—mostly yellow, with one red and nine black—included requirements for mandatory winter equipment like chains and addressed risks such as drifting snow. This total exceeds activations from 2018 and is about double the recent average of around 250, with some sources noting up to 430 instances. The Port d'Envalira closed four times, mainly due to poor visibility from blizzard conditions.

COEX used approximately 7 tonnes of salt, above the 5-6 tonnes typical of a normal season and well over the 4 tonnes of recent lighter winters. The team also conducted 13 avalanche control operations, involving 181 preventive blasts to protect roads—far more than the previous year's minimal efforts.

Palmitjavila highlighted more frequent, moderate snowfalls of 5-10 cm, alongside three or four intense episodes, which demanded sustained action rather than sporadic responses. Resources proved adequate, with around 30 seasonal drivers, 10 permanent staff, and 32 snowploughs, equating to one machine per 20 km of roads when including those from communes and ski resorts. He noted that prior seasons underused reinforcements, and continuous work created a productive routine, even if demanding.

Efforts extended to French territory under a new cross-border winter viability protocol signed early in the season. COEX increasingly favours brine over solid salt to prevent ice, citing savings, reduced impact on vehicles, infrastructure, and the environment. The official winter period runs from 1 November to 30 April, though readiness persists year-round, with traffic code mandating equipment until 15 May.