VDOT News - Hampton Roads

SUFFOLK—With the potential for winter weather tonight, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is warning drivers to watch out for slick spots on area roads Sunday evening through Monday morning. Mixed winter precipitation is predicted across Hampton Roads and with dropping temperatures overnight there is increased potential for icy conditions. 

With sub-freezing temperatures forecasted overnight Sunday and through the morning rush hour, refreeze on the roadways is highly possible. Motorists should treat wet spots on the road as if they are ice, especially on bridges, ramps, overpasses and elevated surfaces that are prone to freeze first. 

VDOT crews will be stationed across the district overnight, responding to changing road conditions and treating slick spots caused by refreezing using salt and sand, as needed. 

Motorists should continue to monitor changing weather and road conditions throughout the duration of the inclement weather. District-specific travel alerts and storm information can be found at https://www.virginiadot.org/newsroom/news_from_vdot.asp.

If travel is unavoidable:

• Visit www.511Virginia.org for the latest road conditions before traveling. If possible, avoid travel until precipitation stops and road conditions improve.
• Give crews time and space to treat roads.
• If you must travel during adverse weather conditions:
• 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
• Keep an emergency winter weather kit in your vehicle which includes food, water, first aid materials, tools and blankets in the event of a breakdown or stoppage.

 Resources: 

• Free 511 Virginia Tools -- Get the latest traffic conditions before traveling by calling 511, or go to www.511virginia.org. You also can download Virginia’s free 511 mobile app at https://www.virginiadot.org/travel/511.asp#app. 

• 800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623) -- Report road hazards, including debris or unpassable roads, to VDOT’s 24-hour Customer Service Center by calling this statewide toll-free number.

• Twitter -- Follow us @VaDOTHR and @511hamptonroads for the latest traffic updates during a storm.

• WAZE – VDOT recently partnered with Waze to add a new feature to the navigation software app that allows users to report, in real-time during winter weather, when a road has not been plowed. It will also inform travelers when they are approaching a road that has been identified by other drivers as unplowed.

For more winter driving information, please visit www.virginiadot.org/travel/snow.asp.

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.