The Virginia Department of Transportation is preparing for snow on Wednesday, the busiest travel day of the year, and urges motorists to consider altering their Thanksgiving travel plans to avoid driving in inclement weather.
While most parts of central Virginia will see rain or a rain-snow mix, slick conditions are likely on mountain passes on Interstates 64 and 66 and Route 33. Motorists should also use caution on bridges, overpasses, ramps and curves, which tend to freeze first. With temperatures below freezing overnight Wednesday, some refreeze may occur, making for icy roads in the early hours of Thanksgiving Day.
Crews with VDOT’s Culpeper District have readied equipment and supplies and will report to work early tomorrow to monitor conditions and treat roads once the precipitation starts.
Snow removal resources
Culpeper District has an estimated $9.3 million budget for snow removal this season. Additional maintenance funds can be used for VDOT’s response to winter weather, if necessary.
More than 900 pieces of equipment are available for snow and ice removal in the Culpeper District’s nine counties: Albemarle, Culpeper, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock. The equipment includes plows, spreaders, backhoes, front-end loaders and motor-graders.
The district stocks the following materials: 34,900 tons of salt, 19,800 tons of sand, 3,900 tons of treated abrasives, 119,450 gallons of liquid calcium chloride and 125,500 gallons of salt brine. These supplies will be replenished as they are used throughout the winter.
Road-clearing priorities
VDOT’s goal is to have all state-maintained roads passable within 48 hours after a winter storm ends. Crews first begin clearing interstates and primary highways (route numbers 1-599), as well as high-volume secondary roads that connect public facilities such as hospitals, emergency services, schools and military posts.
Once those roads are in good condition, crews move to the lower-volume secondary roads and finally into neighborhoods to clear subdivision streets. During multi-day storms, plows will often make one pass along secondary roads and continue on to open other roads before returning to plow the full width of the road.
Road conditions: Know before you go
511 Virginia
Before traveling, get the latest traffic conditions by calling 511 from any phone in Virginia, visiting www.511virginia.org or downloading the free 511 Virginia mobile app.
Social media
Twitter: For local information, follow @VaDOTCulp and @511northwestva
Facebook: Like VDOT’s statewide page, www.facebook.com/VirginiaDOT
VDOT Customer Service Center
Report road hazards and ask questions by calling 1-800-FOR-ROAD or using the online form at www.virginiadot.org/travel/citizen.asp. The customer service center is open 24 hours a day.
Additional information
For winter driving information and more details on VDOT’s snow operations, visit www.virginiadot.org/travel/snow.asp.
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Chris Graham
