RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Winter weather revved up overnight Friday, bringing heavy snow and ice statewide.
As the storm continues, so do VDOT’s snow removal efforts. Roads continue to be plowed and treated around the clock. In areas with intense wind gusts, snow may have been pushed back onto roadways and will require additional attention.
Drivers should stay off the roads to avoid treacherous conditions and give plows plenty of room to do their job.
What’s good to know now:
- Most roads throughout Virginia are in moderate to severe condition. Moderate condition means that a layer of snow or ice covers the roadway and severe means that significant amounts of snow remain on the road surface.
- Additional snow and cold temperatures will make driving conditions dangerous and travel is not encouraged.
- Visibility may be an issue due to blowing and drifting snow.
- Crews work to clear interstates and primary roads (routes numbered 1-599) first, then major secondary roads (routes numbered 600 and above) with vital emergency and public facilities, then other secondary roads and subdivision streets. Crews first focus their efforts on those roads that carry the most traffic.
- Throughout the storm, crews in Northern Virginia work on interstates, high-volume roads, and in subdivisions concurrently.
- Check on road conditions and view live cameras at 511virginia.org. In Northern Virginia, when snow reaches two inches or more, visit the online neighborhood tracking map that monitors the status of plowing.
VDOT has about 2,500 crew members and more than 13,000 pieces of equipment, including plows, trucks and spreaders, for snow-removal operations across the Commonwealth. VDOT also uses contractors to maintain the interstates throughout Virginia. Supplies are in good shape with over 650,000 tons of salt, sand and abrasives and nearly two million gallons of liquid salt.
The agency has a statewide network of 77 weather sensors in roadways and bridges, allowing crews to quickly identify when and where road surfaces are freezing. The agency remains in close coordination with state and local police and monitors weather reports to maintain a constant state of readiness.
Information sources:
Go to www.511virginia.org for road conditions and www.virginiadot.org for all other travel related and transportation information. Call VDOT’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-367-ROAD (7623) to report debris, downed trees or other hazards on the roadway. Get updates from VDOT on Facebook and on Twitter by following @VaDOT.
