VDOT Making Preps For Approaching Winter Storm Again This Weekend

VDOT LYNCHBURG Another round of winter weather is in the forecast and crews with the Lynchburg District of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) are prepared to respond.

Because the storm is anticipated to start as rain no pretreatment of primary roads is currently taking place in the Lynchburg District; however, changes in the forecast are being monitored. In addition, crews are inspecting their trucks and other equipment, re-installing spreaders and plows, and loading truck beds with salt, sand or other materials in anticipation.

Currently, the following counties in the district are under a Winter Storm Watch from Saturday evening through Sunday morning with the possibility of heavy snow: Amherst, Appomattox, Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte, Halifax, and Pittsylvania. A Winter Storm Watch means there is potential for significant snow, sleet or ice accumulations that may impact travel.   Additional warnings/watches/advisories are possible. Travel, particularly during a storm, is not recommended.

VDOT urges motorists to monitor local forecasts and to avoid travel during the storm, as snow or ice on roadways makes travel hazardous. Those who must be on the road should reduce speed, increase following distance and use VDOT’s free 511 tools to find out about road conditions along the route.

Crews will work around the clock to clear roads, beginning with primary highways, then shifting to secondary roads and neighborhoods once the main roads are passable. VDOT snowplow operators and contract crews will treat roads with salt and sand to aid melting and improve traction. When the snow accumulates to about two inches, the plows will push the snow off the roadways.

Additional information about winter-weather preparations and response can be found at www.virginiadot.org/travel/snow.asp. Local updates are posted on Twitter @VaDOTLynchburg.

VDOT STAUNTON – Another round of winter weather is forecasted to move into the Shenandoah Valley late tonight and into Sunday, February 7. People are asked not to drive if possible. If travel is necessary, drivers are asked to give snow crews room to work. Several inches of snow are expected with heavy snow in the early morning hours. The Virginia Department of Transportation Staunton District will be pre-treating interstate roads with brine beginning on Saturday morning. Crews will be deployed overnight to begin plowing and treating roads as the snow begins.

Due to expected changing driving conditions throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, it is advised to monitor weather forecasts for updated information before any travel is attempted

Road conditions and traffic cameras can be found on the VDOT 511 website athttp://www.511Virginia.org, Roads with snow conditions will be marked minor, moderate, severe or closed. For a text listing of winter weather road conditions go tohttp://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.

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.

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 https://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.

VDOT statewide Twitter messages can be found at @VaDOT. The nine districts can be found at:Hampton Roads @VaDOTHR; Richmond @VaDOTRVA; Northern Virginia @VaDOTNOVA; Fredericksburg @VaDOTFred; Culpeper @VaDOTCulp; Lynchburg @VaDOTLynchburg; Bristol @VaDOTBristol; Salem @VaDOTSalem; Staunton @VaDOTStaunton.

VDOT can be followed on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube. RSS feeds are also available for statewide information. The VDOT Web page is located at http://www.VirginiaDOT.org.

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

VDOT CULPEPER — Crews in the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Culpeper District are closely monitoring the forecast and preparing for a fast-moving winter storm expected to arrive late Saturday into Sunday morning. VDOT urges motorists to pay attention to the forecast and to avoid traveling during the storm.

VDOT crews will report to work Saturday evening to complete preparations. Once precipitation begins falling, VDOT snowplow operators and contract crews will treat roads with salt and sand to aid melting and improve traction. If snow accumulates to about two inches, the plows will push the snow off the roadways.

Crews will work around the clock to clear roads, beginning with interstates and primary highways, then shifting to secondary roads and neighborhoods once the main roads are passable.

Those who must be on the road during the storm should reduce speed, increase following distance and use VDOT’s free 511 tools to find out about road conditions along the route.

VDOT’s Customer Service Center is open 24 hours a day to answer questions and take reports of roadway hazards. Call 1-800-FOR-ROAD (367-7623) or contact us online at https://my.vdot.virginia.gov.

Additional information about winter-weather preparations and response can be found at www.virginiadot.org/travel/snow.asp. Local updates are posted to Twitter.com/VaDOTCulp and the district’s snow emergency webpage.

The Culpeper District includes the counties of Albemarle, Culpeper, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock.