VDOT ready for old man winter: Motorists urged to stay off affected roads once storm begins

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews have pretreated roadways ahead of a winter storm expected to bring significant amounts of snow and freezing rain to parts of the Commonwealth beginning Sunday, Dec. 9. Southside Virginia and the southwest region are expected to be hardest hit, with precipitation starting early Sunday and lasting overnight into Monday morning.

What motorists need to know:

While VDOT crews have pretreated roads, once snow falls, roads will be slick and driving conditions will be hazardous.

Motorists are urged to stay off roads during the storm. About 70 percent of deaths related to ice and snow occur in automobiles. By staying off roads during a winter storm, transportation workers and public-safety officials can clear roads and respond more quickly to emergency needs.

VDOT and contract crews will be out in force around the clock to clear roads.

When the storm hits, crews work to clear interstates and primary roads first, then major secondary roads with vital emergency and public facilities, and then other secondary roads and subdivision streets. Crews focus their efforts on those roads that carry the most traffic.

Monitor weather conditions from your local news sources and go to 511virginia.org for the latest road conditions before heading out once the storm has passed. Even after the storm has passed, avoid or limit travel until roads are in better condition. When traveling on snowy roads, give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination, keep a safe distance of at least five seconds behind the vehicle ahead of you, brake very lightly to avoid your tires from slipping on pavement and do not pass snowplows. Click here for more safety tips.

To report a weather related issue on roads go to https://my.vdot.virginia.gov/or call 1-800-FOR-ROADS.
For more information on winter weather travel go to http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/snow.asp.

Background:

VDOT has approximately 2,500 crewmembers for snow-removal operations statewide. In addition, VDOT uses contractors to maintain the interstates throughout the Commonwealth. Snow removal is one of the main functions of these contractors.
VDOT has nearly 11,700 pieces of equipment and more than 700,000 tons of salt, sand and treated abrasives and 2.1 million gallons of liquid calcium chloride and salt brine ready at full capacity. Materials are continually replenished once used throughout snow season.
A statewide network of 77 weather sensors in roadways and bridges allows VDOT maintenance crews to quickly identify when and where road surfaces might be freezing.

Resources:

Get the latest road conditions – call 511, go to 511virginia.org or download the mobile app at the 511 web site.

Report hazardous road conditions or talk to a customer service representative – call VDOT’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623).

Traffic information is also available on Twitter @511statewideVA.For general VDOT information, follow @VaDOT.

VDOT’s Facebook page will also be updated throughout the storm. https://www.facebook.com/VirginiaDOT