VDOT crews busy on eastern side of the Blue Ridge trying to reopen roads

The rain on Friday from the remnants of Hurricane Helene washed out several roads on the eastern side of the Blue Ridge, including one in Albemarle County that VDOT is saying will need to be rebuilt.

At mid-afternoon Saturday, five roads in Albemarle County were closed, and in Madison County, Route 670 (Old Blue Ridge Turnpike) is washed out.

Route 637 (Mutton Hollow Road) in Greene County also remains closed due to high water.

VDOT crews will be working through the weekend to reopen flooded roads as the water recedes and inspecting roads and bridges to ensure they are safe for travel. Other crews are beginning to restore the district’s unpaved roads, although the ground will need to dry before equipment can scrape the shoulders and restore drainage ditches.

Weather forecasts are calling for another round of rain Sunday and Monday. VDOT urges everyone to stay weather aware by following local weather forecasts and adjusting travel plans based on the approaching storms and local conditions.

If you have travel plans, check forecasts and conditions along your route. Southwest Virginia, especially, was hard hit by this week’s storms and all roads are not passable at this time.

Small streams can rise quickly and without warning due to heavy rain upstream. Two feet of water is enough to float most vehicles, including trucks and SUVs, and when a road is submerged a driver may not be able to tell whether the road is damaged or washed out.

Don’t take chances with floodwaters: “Turn Around, Don’t Drown.”

VDOT advises not to drive during storms but if you must be on the road, especially during overnight hours, drive with extreme caution. And in all bad weather, state law in Virginia is “Headlights On, Wipers On.”

Never drive around barricades, even if the water is down and the road appears passable since there may be damage that is not immediately apparent.

For questions or to report hazardous road conditions, contact VDOT’s 24-hour Customer Service Center by visiting my.vdot.virginia.gov or calling 800-FOR-ROAD (367-7623).

Current traffic conditions and other real-time travel information are available on the 511Virginia.org website and the free VDOT 511 mobile app, or by calling 511 from any phone in Virginia.