VDOT News - Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews are patrolling state-maintained roads across the Fredericksburg area, Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula tonight to treat for any hazardous road conditions as snow continues to fall.

Crews are applying sand and salt to the pavement as needed to improve traction and reduce icing, focusing on bridges, ramps and overpasses, which freeze first.

Isolated patches of snow have started to cover roads in the Northern Neck, where minor road conditions are reported. Pavement is currently wet but clear in the Fredericksburg area and Middle Peninsula.

Road conditions are anticipated to quickly deteriorate when temperatures drop below freezing overnight. Roads may become covered by accumulating snow, and any wet pavement may freeze.

Motorists should not travel overnight and Saturday during the storm, and should plan to delay travel until road conditions improve along their route. Before starting a trip, check 511Virginia for the latest road conditions across Virginia.

High winds expected with this storm may lead to blowing or drifting snow, which could limit motorist visibility. High wind advisories may be posted on major bridges. Message boards at key river crossings in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula will notify travelers of high wind advisories.

Around 730 trucks are available districtwide to plow snow and treat roads during this storm. Crews focus first on roads that carry the most traffic, such as Interstate 95 and primary routes, high-volume secondary roads, and roads that connect with critical emergency service facilities. Tree contractors are in position to help remove downed trees and debris that may block travel lanes.

High Winds Protocol for Major Bridges

With gusting winds expected as part of this winter storm, VDOT will be monitoring wind speeds on major river crossings in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula, including:

• Norris Bridge, which carries Route 3 over the Rappahannock River between Lancaster and Middlesex counties
• Downing Bridge, which carries Route 360 over the Rappahannock River between Richmond County and the Town of Tappahannock
• Route 223 bridge over Milford Haven, which connects mainland Mathews County with Gwynn's Island
• Eltham Bridge, which carries Route 30/Route 33 traffic over the Pamunkey River and connects the Town of West Point and New Kent County
• Lord Delaware Bridge, which carries Route 33 over the Mattaponi River and connects the Town of West Point and King and Queen County

If sustained winds reach 30 mph over a period of 30 minutes, or there are frequent wind gusts of 45 mph or greater, VDOT will post a high wind advisory notice on these bridges.

High-profile vehicles such as tractor-trailers, box trucks, and large vans and SUVs are advised to not cross the bridge when an advisory is posted. Trucks carrying small or empty loads may be especially at risk.

When sustained winds reach 45 mph or above over a period of 15 minutes, VDOT crews will post a bridge closure notice. However, bridges will not be physically barricaded.

Notices will be posted on message boards staged at the bridges, and communicated through VDOT news releases, VDOT social media platforms, and on 511Virginia.

The Route 223 bridge to Gwynn's Island in Mathews is currently closed to marine traffic openings for emergency mechanical repair.

Ferry Service

Service on the Merry Point Ferry in Lancaster County and the Sunnybank Ferry in Northumberland County will be suspended on Saturday, Jan. 29.

511Virginia

Call 511, visit www.511Virginia.org, or use VDOT’s 511Virginia free mobile app to find real-time road conditions in any area of the state.

VDOT’s Customer Service Center

VDOT’s Customer Service Center is open 24 hours a day to answer questions and take reports of roadway hazards at 1-800-FOR-ROAD (367-7623).

VDOT Online Snow Plow Tracker

VDOT’s online snow plow tracking map will be activated once 2 inches of snow or more has accumulated.

VDOT and contractor trucks are equipped with automatic vehicle location technology, and can be monitored on the tracker during snow removal operations.

Additional Information

Follow VDOT on Twitter @VaDOT and @VaDOTFRED
Connect with us on Facebook on our VDOT page, and VDOT Fredericksburg District group page.
Find VDOT Fredericksburg District news releases online on VDOT’s website, www.VirginiaDOT.org, under “Newsroom.”

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VDOT’s 14-county Fredericksburg District includes the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford in the Fredericksburg area; Northumberland, Richmond, Lancaster and Westmoreland counties in the Northern Neck; Essex, Gloucester, King & Queen, King William, Mathews and Middlesex counties in the Middle Peninsula.

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.