VDOT News - Richmond

SOUTH CHESTERFIELD, Va. – Conditions are currently clear in the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) 14-county Richmond District, but are expected to change in the overnight hours as winter weather enters the region late Saturday. 

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

“Not everyone has their eyes on the forecast, so it might surprise some people that the unseasonable weather we are seeing Saturday morning and afternoon will not last,” said Gary Jennings, Acting Richmond District Maintenance Engineer. “Please consider reminding friends and family that winter weather is on the way – and to limit travel during 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 as needed.

Tips for drivers

• The safest place to be during winter storms is indoors. The first two hours of storms present especially tricky conditions for drivers. 
• If you must travel, give snow response equipment 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. 
• Increase following distance for all vehicles during winter weather. 

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.