According to meteorological forecasts, Huaihua will experience a cold wave with strong winds and widespread low-temperature rain, snow, and freezing weather from January 19 to 22. The extreme weather posed renewed severe challenges to highway traffic conditions. The Huaihua Highway Department promptly initiated a Level IV emergency response,ensuring the safety and smooth flow of roads under its jurisdiction with speed and determination.

At 19:00 on the evening of January 19, with temperatures approaching 0°C in the Huaihua Ring Expressway jurisdiction, our reporters joined the staff of the Huaihua West Management Office under the Hunan Expressway Group Huaihua Branch for a road patrol. The team distributed preventive de-icing agents on sections prone to icing, such as bridges, slopes, and curves.

Subsequently, as temperatures along sections of the G60 Shanghai-Kunming Expressway, G65 Baotou-Maoming Expressway, and Zhitong Expressway successively dropped to freezing point, toll stations across these routes laid anti-slip gunnysacks in hazardous areas like safety islands and evenly spread de-icing salt across lanes. These coordinated efforts were dedicated to ensuring the safety of passing vehicles.

"Freezing rain has begun on the Xuefeng Mountain section of the G60 Shanghai-Kunming Expressway, with temperatures dropping to 0°C. Please maintain constant vigilance..." At 01:12 on January 20, the Huaihua Expressway Network Monitoring and Command Center remained brightly lit. Network monitoring staff kept a close eye on the live traffic feeds, issuing precise instructions without a moment's hesitation.

All management offices intensified their patrol frequency, with a focus on inspecting and guarding against icing at bridges and curves. They conducted multiple rounds of preventive de-icing agent distribution overnight. By 08:00 on January 20, staff from the Huaihua Expressway had cumulatively spread approximately 255 tons of de-icing agent. These robust and effective measures ensured the overall stable operation of the road network.

Around the clock, volunteers from the Expressway "Roadside Light" program work in shifts to actively address the difficulties and needs of those stranded drivers and passengers, providing for them with timely rest areas and free, simple meals.

At 8 p.m. on January 19, a truck broke down upon arriving at Gantang Toll Station and was forced to wait for assistance in the outer plaza. Noticing the situation, the on-duty staff promptly approached to inquire. Learning that the driver hadn't eaten anything, they immediately prepared and handed over a bowl of hot instant noodles. Considering the low nighttime temperatures, they also invited the driver to wait in the rest area, allowing those stranded to feel the care and warmth of the "Roadside Light" program in their moment of difficulty.

Currently, the Huaihua expressway network is operating stably overall with good traffic order. Facing this severe cold wave, the Huaihua Highway Department will refine its emergency plans in accordance with the requirements of "equipment readiness, personnel readiness, and rapid response." Efforts will be made to focus on ensuring the preparedness of equipment, materials, and emergency teams, striving to win this battle against ice and snow.

(Translated by Feng Tao)