VDOT: Travel still not advised overnight in Shenandoah Valley

Snow has ended in the Shenandoah Valley. Light sleet has been falling for most of the afternoon with rain forecasted to begin around midnight. Road conditions are improving as plows make progress on the interstate and primary roads and begin their work on the secondary road system. Travel throughout the region is still not advised, but if it is necessary motorists should use extreme caution and leave extra time for their trip.

Northbound Interstate 81 is closed near the Warren/Frederick County line due to cleanup operations from a tractor-trailer accident. The location is near mile marker 300 at the junction with Interstate 66. Northbound I-81 traffic is using I-66 as a detour route. I-81 is expected to reopen this evening.

Here are the 4:30 p.m. road conditions.

• Interstate 64 – Moderate conditions in Alleghany County.  Clear conditions in Augusta County,
• Interstate 66 – Minor conditions in Warren County.
• Interstate 81 – Moderate conditions in Rockbridge County. Minor conditions in Shenandoah and Frederick counties. Clear conditions in Augusta and Rockingham counties.
• Primary Roads – Moderate conditions in Bath, Highland, Alleghany, Rockbridge and Clarke counties. Moderate and minor conditions in Frederick County. Minor conditions in Augusta, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Warren and Page counties.
• Secondary Roads – Moderate conditions in Frederick, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge, Alleghany and Bath counties.

The VDOT Staunton District has 850 pieces of equipment for this storm. Crews will work 12-hour shifts with approximately 1000 people per shift including VDOT and contractor crews. VDOT is working with utility and tree trimming crews in preparation for possible downed trees and debris due to icing.

Portions of Route 606 (Sulphur Spring Road) in Alleghany County and Route 758 (Woodstock Tower Road) in Shenandoah County is closed to through traffic for this storm. Both are narrow roadways through mountainous terrain, and can be dangerous during winter weather. The roads will reopen when conditions allow.

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 also are available at 511Virginia.org.  On the go?  Then visit VDOT’s Free Virginia 511 Tools to get your 511 app for android or iOS.  Traffic alerts and traveler information can be obtained by dialing 511.

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. Get our web-based VDOT Customer Service app here

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.