VDOT News - Richmond

SOUTH CHESTERFIELD, Va. – With a mix of wintry weather in the forecasts for Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Richmond District crews are on the move to ensure that roads remain safe.

Overnight Monday, crews began pretreating major routes in the north and west areas of the district with a saltwater brine to prevent ice from bonding with the pavement. Treatment and monitoring continues on interstates 64 and 95 in the Goochland and Hanover areas, the northern end of Route 288 and other major primary routes (numbered 1-599). 

“Our biggest concern will be ice accumulation during and after this event, which could cause slick commutes Wednesday morning,” said Sean Nelson, Richmond District Maintenance Engineer. There is also the potential for high wind gusts which would cause tree limbs to break and fall onto roadways. Our crews and contractors will be monitoring roads closely for icy patches and debris.”  

Tips for drivers

Icy patches will be the main concern for the Wednesday morning commute before temperatures rise. Drivers should reduce their speed, use extra caution and check local forecasts and resources for conditions before venturing out. Areas more likely to freeze include bridges, ramps, overpasses, turns and shaded areas. Drivers should also use extra caution overnight Wednesday if pavement is still wet, as refreeze could occur.  

Information resources

511 Virginia

Before traveling, you can get the latest traffic conditions by using 511 Virginia. Call 511 from any phone in Virginia, visit www.511virginia.org or download the free mobile app at http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/511.asp#app.

Social media

Twitter: For area information, follow @VaDOTRVA and @511centralva

Facebook: Visit VDOT’s statewide page and follow the Richmond District group: https://www.facebook.com/VirginiaDOT

Customer service center

Report road hazards or ask road-related questions at VDOT’s 24-hour Customer Service Center by calling 800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623) or using the online form available at https://my.vdot.virginia.gov/ 

Additional resources

For more winter driving information, please visit VDOT's winter weather page. 

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VDOT’s Richmond District oversees snow removal activities on approximately 19,000 lane miles of roads in 14 counties in central Virginia: Amelia, Brunswick, Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico (primary routes only), Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, New Kent, Nottoway, Powhatan and Prince George counties. Henrico County provides snow removal for their secondary roads (numbered 600 and above) and subdivision streets. Cities that provide their own snow removal include Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Petersburg and Richmond, and the towns of Ashland, Blackstone, Chase City and South Hill.

Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.