The Virginia Department of Transportation remains fully engaged in snow removal operations in Central Virginia, and asks residents to have patience as crews work more than 4,000 miles in the secondary highway system.
Most of these routes, which are numbered 600 and above, have been plowed once, with at least a single passable lane, though the road surface may be rough and rutted. Crews expect to reach the remaining unplowed roads today, and will return with heavy equipment to push back snow to open the roads’ full width over the next several days.
Interstate 64 and most primary highways in VDOT’s nine-county Culpeper District are reported to be clear of snow and ice. On I-66 in Fauquier County, VDOT is using graders and a snow blower to remove drifted snow and fully open all travel lanes.
What residents should know
- Plows will provide a path through neighborhoods that is drivable with caution for an average passenger vehicle. The path will not be curb-to-curb or bare pavement, and may remain uneven and rutted.
- Chemicals are not typically used in subdivisions, but crews will sand hills, curves and intersections as needed to provide traction.
- In many neighborhoods, front-end loaders and motor graders will be required to move snow where there is not enough room to push.
- Crews are asked to be mindful of pushing large piles onto driveways, but in an extreme storm that can be an unintended consequence of making roads passable.
- To give crews a chance to finish their plow assignments, VDOT asks that residents wait 48 hours after the storm is over before reporting “missed” roads.
Use VDOT’s free 511 tools to monitor road conditions and live traffic camera feeds. Additional information about winter-weather preparations and response can be found at www.virginiadot.org/travel/snow.asp.
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Chris Graham
