VDOT News - Salem

SALEM – Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews and contractors are deployed in western Virginia and working in 12-hour shifts, around the clock, to plow and treat roads. The winter storm is expected to continue throughout the day, so VDOT is advising that motorists avoid travel.

This afternoon, all roads – including interstates, primary routes, secondary roads and neighborhood streets – in western Virginia are covered with a layer of snow as plowed roads are being covered again by additional snowfall. Conditions will deteriorate throughout the day and into the evening hours as the storm continues to bring additional precipitation.

As long as the snow, sleet or freezing rain continues to fall, VDOT crews and contractors will continue to focus their efforts on roads that carry the most traffic and are making repeated passes over the interstates (I-77, I-81 and I-581) and primary roads (those numbered 1-599). 

Drivers and residents should

• Avoid travel. Plowed roads are covering again with snow. Road conditions will not improve until the snow stops and operators can make more progress. 

• Park off the road to allow plows to clear the road ahead. Avoid parking in the street or in cul-de-sacs to make it easier for snowplow drivers when plows head to your neighborhood.

• Shovel to the right when facing the road, so less snow is pushed back into driveways when plows start working on these routes.

Road conditions are available at www.511Virginia.org. VDOT’s Customer Service Center can be reached by calling 1-800-367-7623 or at my.vdot.virginia.gov. Report emergencies to 911. When snow reaches two inches or more, snowplows can be tracked at http://vdotplows.org.

The Salem District includes the counties of Bedford, Botetourt, Carroll, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Henry, Montgomery, Patrick, Pulaski and Roanoke.

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.