VDOT News - Richmond

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

Beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday, crews started preparing equipment and pretreating interstate, primary, and high volume secondary routes in the southern portions of the district with a saltwater brine to prevent ice from bonding with the pavement. Crews will mobilize in the southern region by 4 a.m. Friday to address any accumulation and slick conditions. 

“Our biggest concern will be slick conditions for the Friday evening commute and overnight in our southernmost counties,” said Sean Nelson, Richmond District Maintenance Engineer. “We will also be watching closely for slick conditions Saturday morning. We are continuing to monitor forecasts in the district, and will adjust our response as conditions change.”

Tips for drivers

Slick roads will be a concern for the Friday evening commute and overnight hours as temperatures start to drop. Drivers should reduce their speed, use extra caution and check local forecasts and resources for conditions before venturing out. Areas more likely to freeze if pavement is wet include bridges, ramps, overpasses, turns and shaded areas.  

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.