VDOT News - Culpeper

CULPEPER — Virginia Department of Transportation crews are on duty tonight in advance of another winter storm forecast to drop three to five inches of snow across Piedmont Virginia. Preparations were completed earlier today, including spraying brine on Interstate 64, I-66 and other high-volume roads.

Meanwhile, specialty debris removal crews working with snow plows, heavy equipment and in coordination with utility companies are continuing to open secondary roads closed by fallen trees during Monday’s storm, many of which have utility lines tangled in them.

Crews will continue to work around the clock to respond to the storm, which will begin in the Culpeper District late this evening. Snow is forecast to continue through the night, ending early Friday morning. VDOT urges drivers to delay non-essential travel and exercise extreme caution if they must drive. 

If you must drive:

• Postpone travel as long as possible to give crews time to treat roads
• Before you leave, check road conditions and traffic cameras along your route on VDOT’s traffic and travel web site, www.511Virginia.org
• Allow plenty of time to reach your destination
• Keep a safe distance of at least five seconds behind the vehicle ahead of you
• Brake very lightly to keep your tires from slipping on pavement
• Do not pass snowplows

VDOT concentrates snow removal operations first on interstate highways, primary roads and major secondary roads with vital emergency and public facilities, or those with high traffic volumes. Secondary roads and subdivision streets will be plowed once the major roadways are passable and safe for traffic.

Falling temperatures Friday night will result in refreezing and slick roads early Saturday morning. Any slush or water on the roads, even those that have been plowed, will freeze again and will remain slick until temperatures rise above freezing.

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.

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