VDOT News - Richmond

SOUTH CHESTERFIELD, Va. – Conditions are currently clear in the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) 14-county Richmond District, but conditions are expected to change as winter weather moves into the region this afternoon through Saturday morning.

Teams completed pretreatment of all interstates and other major routes in the district Friday morning, and are now on the lookout for flakes to fall.

“Forecasts show that this storm will produce a lighter, fluffier snow than we’ve seen in recent events,” said Gary Jennings, Acting Richmond District Maintenance Engineer. “Drifting snow and reduced visibility will be a big concern as this storm moves through our district. Drivers must remain off the roads until conditions improve after the storm.”

Once snow starts, crews will work in 12-hour, rotating shifts around the clock until all state-maintained roads are safe and passable. Crews will plow any snow that has accumulated two inches or more, and will apply salt and sand to reduce slick conditions and give vehicles traction. Interstate routes will be addressed first, followed by primary and major secondary routes, then neighborhoods and subdivisions.

Tips for drivers

• Plan now to remain off roads from Friday evening through the storm’s end. Reach your destination before the storm begins, rather than driving during or after the storm.
• If you must travel, give snow plows plenty of room (at least 100 feet) and don't pass them. Drivers may encounter slow-moving equipment on the roads during winter weather events.
• Visibility is expected to be reduced during the storm due to drifting, light snow. Reduce your speed if travel is essential and leave ample room between your vehicle and others. Remember, if your windshield wipers are on, your headlights should also be on.

Information resources

511 Virginia
Before traveling, you can get the latest traffic conditions by using 511 Virginia. Call 511 from any phone in Virginia, visit www.511virginia.org or download the free mobile app at http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/511.asp#app.

Social media
Twitter: For area information, follow @VaDOTRVA and @511centralva

Facebook: Visit VDOT’s statewide page and follow the Richmond District group: https://www.facebook.com/VirginiaDOT

Customer service center
Report road hazards or ask road-related questions at VDOT’s 24-hour Customer Service Center by calling 800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623) or using the online form available at https://my.vdot.virginia.gov/.

Additional resources
For more winter driving information, please visit VDOT's winter weather page. 

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VDOT’s Richmond District oversees snow removal activities on approximately 19,000 lane miles of roads in 14 counties in central Virginia: Amelia, Brunswick, Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico (primary routes only), Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, New Kent, Nottoway, Powhatan and Prince George counties. Henrico County provides snow removal for their secondary roads (numbered 600 and above) and subdivision streets. Cities that provide their own snow removal include Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Petersburg and Richmond, and the towns of Ashland, Blackstone, Chase City and South Hill.

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.