VDOT News - Statewide

RICHMOND, Va. – Precipitation continues throughout the Commonwealth, and Virginia Department of Transportation crews remain alert for icy spots that may impact overnight travel and Monday morning commutes. Motorists should exercise caution traveling overnight and in the morning.

Crews will be on the lookout for any freezing, treating slick spots with salt to melt ice and sand to provide traction for drivers in impacted locations. Refreeze is expected to impact areas of northern and southwest Virginia.

Drivers are reminded that areas where wind circulates more freely, such as bridges and overpasses, typically freeze first. Standing water on travel lanes will also be more susceptible to refreeze, and teams where temperatures pose risk of refreeze will address icy patches until roads are deemed safe.

Key reminders:

• Do not travel if conditions are icy.
• Give crews time to treat roads.
• If possible, avoid travel until frozen precipitation ceases and road conditions improve.
• 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
  • Do not pass snowplows
• 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.
• Visit 511Virginia.org for the latest road conditions before traveling.

For more information on winter weather travel, visit virginiadot.org/travel/snow.asp.

Resources:

• To report hazardous road conditions or talk to a customer service representative, call VDOT’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623) or visit online at vdot.virginia.gov.
• 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.
• Traffic information is also available on Twitter @511statewideVA; for general VDOT information, follow @VaDOT.

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.