VDOT News - Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Icy road conditions are anticipated overnight into Sunday morning, as any wet pavement from today's snow and rain may refreeze as temperatures remain below freezing, and pavement temperatures grow colder.

Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews will remain mobilized in emergency response tonight and tomorrow morning. Crews will apply treatment materials to reduce icing and improve traction on Interstate 95, primary and high-volume secondary roads, with an emphasis on treating elevated surfaces such as bridges, ramps and overpasses. However, even with treatment, icy patches are possible. Motorists should consider postponing travel until road conditions improve, or if travel is necessary, plan to use additional caution by allowing extra travel time, reducing speed, and increasing following distance between vehicles.

High winds, with gusts surpassing 40 mph, are expected to continue overnight. Crews will continue to clear downed trees and debris on state-maintained roads as needed.

A high wind advisory remains posted at Eltham Bridge over the Pamunkey River between the Town of West Point and New Kent County.

Additional advisories may be made at other major river crossings in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula. Travelers should check 511Virginia for updates. When a high wind advisory is posted at a bridge, high-profile vehicles such as tractor-trailers, box trucks, and large vans and SUVs are advised to not cross the bridge. Trucks carrying small or empty loads may be especially at risk.

High Winds Protocol for Major Bridges, Fredericksburg District

Through Sunday morning, VDOT will be closely monitoring wind speeds at major river crossings in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula, including:

• Eltham Bridge
• 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
• 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 winds advisory notice on these bridges.

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.

VDOT’s Customer Service Center

If motorists encounter a downed tree or another hazard in the road, do not attempt to move it. 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).

Additional Information

Follow VDOT on Twitter @VaDOT and @VaDOTFRED

Find VDOT Fredericksburg District news releases online on VDOT’s website, www.VirginiaDOT.org, under “Newsroom.”

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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.