Snow Plows Focusing on Main Road Until Snow Stops Falling

Release, Virginia Department of Transportation:

FREDERICKSBURG – Snow is falling in the Fredericksburg District, and many roads are now covered in snow, creating slippery and hazardous driving conditions.

 With snow expected to fall steadily all day, drivers are asked to stay off the roads during the storm.

Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews are circulating throughout the District’s 14 counties. VDOT has 800 pieces of state and hired equipment to plow roads in the Fredericksburg area, Northern Neck, and Middle Peninsula. Crews will also apply salt to melt snow and ice, and will spread sand on areas where additional traction is needed, such as hills, curves, bridges, ramps and overpasses.

 As snow continues to fall, VDOT crews will repeatedly plow Interstate 95, primary roads and high-volume secondary roads to keep them passable. Once snow has stopped falling, crews can then turn their focus to clearing a path on roads carrying less traffic, such as low-volume secondary roads and subdivision streets.

VDOT’s goal is to have all state-maintained roads passable within 48 hours of a storm’s end.

VDOT crews mobilized at midnight, and will continue to work 24 hours a day, in 12-hour shifts, until all state-maintained roads are safe for travel.

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 (800-367-7623).

Tree removal contractors are on standby to assist VDOT with the removal of downed trees, limbs and debris. VDOT will coordinate with utility companies regarding any downed power lines that may fall across roadways.

With the potential for power outages, traffic signals could be down. If motorists encounter a traffic signal without power, it should be treated as a four-way stop.

Check 511Virginia for real-time road conditions by calling 511 or going to 511virginia.org.

Road Clearing Priorities

Crews will focus first on clearing roads that carry the most traffic.

Crews begin by clearing interstates, primary roads and major secondary roads that connect localities, fire stations, employment hubs, military posts, schools, hospitals and other important public facilities, followed by secondary roads and subdivision streets.  

Click Here to learn more about VDOT’s winter weather preparedness.

Driveway Clearing Tips 

To make as many roads passable as quickly as possible, VDOT plow operators will push snow off the roadway in smooth, continuous passes. It ends up along road shoulders, sometimes blocking driveways. 

To avoid doing double work, wait until a plow has cleared your street before shoveling snow from the end of a driveway. 

For motorists who must shovel the end of their driveway before a plow arrives, shovel it to the right of your driveway as you face the road.