The Virginia Department of Transportation is ready to respond to snow showers and high winds that are forecast for parts of the Shenandoah Valley Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday morning. VDOT Staunton District crews and contractors will plow and treat roads as conditions warrant. Tree-removal contractors are on-call for possibility of downed trees or branches blocking roadways.
Drivers should closely monitor weather forecasts and road conditions, and allow for extra travel time or consider delaying trips. VDOT crews will be on duty to watch for precipitation and developing road conditions. Crews will begin to immediately treat roads as needed.
Motorists should keep in mind the following safety tips:
- Keep your car’s windows, mirrors and lights clear of snow and ice.
- Always wear your seat belt.
- Be aware of potentially icy areas such as shady spots and bridges.
- Keep a safe distance of at least five seconds behind other vehicles and trucks that are plowing the road.
- Don’t pass a snowplow or spreader unless it is absolutely necessary. Treat these as you would emergency-response vehicles.
- Drive smart and pay close attention. Don’t text and drive – it’s a secondary offense in Virginia.
For winter weather road conditions go to www.511Virginia.org, look at the orange bar on the top of the page and click on “Text Views” and then click on “Road Condition Table”. Look at the pull down box that lists all jurisdictions. In this box individual counties can be chosen to view.
Traffic alerts and traveler information can be obtained by dialing 511. Traffic alerts and traveler information also are available at 511Virginia.org. For other assistance call the VDOT Customer Service Center, available 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week. Citizens can dial 1-800-FOR- ROAD (1-800-367-7623) from anywhere in the state to report road hazards, ask transportation questions, or get information related to Virginia’s roads.
The Staunton District Twitter feed is at @VaDOTStaunton. VDOT can be followed on Facebook, Flickr,Twitter and YouTube. RSS feeds are also available for statewide information. The VDOT Web page is located at www.VirginiaDOT.org.
The VDOT Staunton District serves Frederick, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge, Alleghany and Bath counties.
Road condition definitions
- Severe – drifting or partially blocked road. Snow tires or chains are necessary.
- Moderate – snow or ice on major portions of the roadway. Snow tires or chains are advisable.
- Minor – bare pavement except for isolated spots of snow, ice or slush. Driving with caution is recommended.
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Chris Graham
