Shenandoah Valley roads are improving – but more ice is on the way

The Virginia Department of Transportation is steadily improving road conditions in the Shenandoah Valley and Alleghany Highlands. Approaching mid-day Friday, interstates and primary roads are in minor condition while most secondary routes are in moderate condition. Motorists who must travel should use great caution, keep their speed down and leave extra stopping distance.

An additional round of winter weather – primarily freezing rain – is forecast for Friday night through Saturday. The storm is expected to bring a significant amount of ice throughout the region. VDOT crews and contractors will be plowing and treating roadways, but freezing rain causes the most hazardous driving conditions. VDOT urges motorists to stay off the roads until well after the storm, and temperatures rise well above freezing.

Here are the road conditions as of 11:00 a.m. Friday in the 11-county VDOT Staunton District:

Interstate 64 – Minor conditions in Alleghany and Rockbridge counties. Clear conditions in Augusta County.

Interstate 66 – Clear conditions in Warren County.

Interstate 81 – Minor conditions in Rockbridge County. Clear conditions in Augusta, Rockingham, Shenandoah and Frederick counties.

Primary roads – Minor conditions in Alleghany, Bath, Rockbridge, Highland, Augusta, Rockingham, Page and Shenandoah counties. Clear conditions in Frederick, Clarke and Warren counties.

Secondary roads – Moderate conditions in Alleghany, Bath, Rockbridge, Augusta, Rockingham and Page counties. Minor conditions in Highland, Shenandoah, Clarke and Warren counties. Clear conditions in Frederick County.

The website http://www.511Virginia.org offers color-coded maps of road conditions as well as pavement temperatures and traffic cameras. Under the “Text Views” tab, the site provides county-by-county listings of road conditions on all types of state-maintained roadways.

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.

The VDOT Customer Service Center can be accessed through its mobile-friendly website at https://my.vdot.virginia.gov/. Agents are on site 24/7 every day of the year to assist the public. People can also call the VDOT Customer Service Center at 800-FOR- ROAD (800-367-7623).

The Staunton District Snow Page is on the VDOT website under Travel Center Snow Emergency Pages. The Staunton District Twitter feed is at @VaDOTStaunton.

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 http://www.VirginiaDOT.org.

The VDOT Staunton District serves Frederick, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge, Alleghany, and Bath counties.

Road condition definitions:
Severe – drifting or partially blocked road.
Moderate – snow or ice on major portions of the roadway.
Minor – bare pavement except for isolated spots of snow, ice or slush.