VDOT News - Richmond

SOUTH CHESTERFIELD, Va. – Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Richmond District crews are busy making plans ahead of an expected winter storm, which could impact the district starting Thursday evening.

Beginning Wednesday, crews across the district started preparing equipment and pretreating interstate routes in the northern portion of the district, including I-64, I-95, I-195 and I-295. The saltwater brine prevents ice from bonding with the pavement. Pretreating on northern interstate routes will continue through daylight hours Wednesday. Salt and sand reserves are also being replenished following the past two weather events.

“With this storm potentially beginning during the Thursday evening commute, we urge drivers to spend today preparing,” said Sean Nelson, Richmond District Maintenance Engineer. “This storm may include a range of wintry precipitation types including ice, so it’s important that drivers make plans to limit travel until roads are safe and passable.”

Additional Safety Service Patrol vehicles will be on the interstates starting Thursday evening to assist with traffic incidents. Towing contractors and tree crews will also be mobilized to remove debris from travel lanes.

Tips for drivers

• Plan travel around winter weather – not during. Pay close attention to local forecasts and utilize VDOT’s 511 app and 511Virginia.org to check on road conditions.
• The safest place during any winter storm is indoors. Ice is difficult to maneuver when driving, so please stay home if you can.
• If drivers stay off the roads during a storm, transportation workers and public safety officials are better able to plow roadways and quickly respond to emergency needs.
• If you must drive, give snow plows and other snow response vehicles plenty of room (at least 100 feet). For everyone’s safety, do not attempt to pass brine trucks or plows.
• Avoid parking along the street in your neighborhood. Snow plows are wide, and plow drivers may not be able to access and plow the road if parked cars are blocking the path.
  
  

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. 

-END-

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.