VDOT preparing for snow and ice, says motorists should avoid travel

Snowy conditions are expected in the area by Wednesday morning, and officials are urging motorists to avoid travel. / File photo

STAUNTON – “A lot” is the weather word for Wednesday, February 20 in the Shenandoah Valley. A lot of snow and a lot of ice are predicted for the region beginning in the pre-dawn hours on Wednesday and extending throughout the day. Winter weather is forecasted to begin as snow and eventually turn into sleet and freezing rain before ending by early Thursday.

People are asked to plan any travel around the weather event and avoid being on the roadways while the storm is ongoing. If travel is essential, be sure all vehicle occupants are buckled up and allow for extra time to reach your destination. Always leave plenty of room between your vehicle and plows. This allows crews to complete their work in the most efficient and safest manner possible.

Early this morning Virginia Department of Transportation crews and contractor crews began pretreating all interstate roads in the VDOT Staunton district. Some primary roads used for detours were also treated. A brine solution is used, which helps to prevent ice from bonding on road surfaces.

Late on Tuesday night and into early Wednesday morning crews will be on duty and staged ready to plow and treat roadways once the winter weather begins. Crews will continue to work in 12-hour shifts, 24-hours a day until all roads have received at least one pass from a plow or the road is clear due to warming weather. The VDOT Staunton District will have approximately 900 pieces of snow removal equipment deployed to clear Shenandoah Valley roads for this storm.

The VDOT Staunton District has heavy wreckers stationed throughout the region to assist in opening travel lanes in the event of crashes that block interstate roadways. Additionally, crews are on standby to assist with tree and brush removal from roads due to heavy icing conditions.

Road conditions and traffic cameras can be found on the VDOT 511 website, Roads with snow conditions will be marked minor, moderate, severe or closed.

Road condition definitions:

• Closed – Road is closed to all traffic.
• 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. Driving with caution is recommended.

For a text listing of winter weather road conditions go to www.511Virginia.org, look at the orange bar on the top of the page and click on “Text Views” and then click on “Road Condition Table”. Look at the pull-down box that lists all jurisdictions. In this box individual counties can be chosen to view.

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