VDOT News - Statewide

RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia Department of Transportation has begun mobilizing to pre-treat roadways and prepare crews and equipment for weekend winter weather. The incoming weather system will impact the Commonwealth beginning in the western portion of the state Friday morning and will move east, arriving in the Hampton Roads region Friday evening.

Areas east of the Interstate 95 corridor are expected to bear the brunt of the storm. The coastal areas of Fredericksburg and Hampton Roads are predicted to be the most heavily impacted, with snowfall of up to 1 inch per hour during the peak of the storm. Sub-freezing temperatures may continue statewide. Any wet pavement should be considered ice throughout the weekend.

VDOT crews have already begun pre-treatment in regions where the process will be effective. Pretreating delays the bonding of ice to the road, but does not prevent ice from forming. Continued treatment operations will include spreading of sand and salt, as needed, on icy patches or slick spots to improve traction. Teams will patrol and monitor road conditions until temperatures improve.

Motorists should not travel during and after winter weather on Friday and Saturday, as icy conditions are expected across Virginia.

Remember:

• Stay home. Avoid nonessential travel.
• Slow down.
• If snow or ice is on the road, conditions are hazardous.
• If you must travel during adverse weather conditions:
  • Review forecasts along your entire route
  • Allow plenty of time to reach your destination
  • Review and be familiar with alternative routes to your destination
  • Keep a safe distance of at least five seconds behind the vehicle ahead of you
  • Brake very lightly to keep your tires from slipping on pavement; do not pump anti-lock brakes
  • Accelerate and decelerate slowly
  • Do not pass snowplows
  • Give crews time and room to treat roads

• Keep an emergency winter weather kit in your vehicle which includes food, water, first aid materials, tools and blankets in the event of a breakdown or stoppage.
• Call 911 if you have an emergency.
• Visit 511Virginia.org for the latest road conditions before traveling. If possible, avoid travel until precipitation stops and road conditions improve.

 For more information on winter weather travel, visit virginiadot.org/travel/snow.asp.

Other Resources:

• To report hazardous road conditions or talk to a customer service representative, call VDOT’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623) or visit online at my.vdot.virginia.gov.
• VDOT recently partnered with Waze to add a new feature to the navigation software app that allows users to report, in real-time during winter weather, when a road has not been plowed. It will also inform travelers when they are approaching a road that has been identified by other drivers as unplowed.
• Traffic information is also available on Twitter @511statewideVA; for general VDOT information, follow @VaDOT.

(END)

Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.