VDOT News - Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews are finishing pretreatment of Interstate 95, primary and high-volume secondary roads in the Fredericksburg District today, and have staff, materials and equipment prepared to respond to any hazardous road conditions during several consecutive days of winter weather, starting tonight through Friday.

On Wednesday night into Thursday morning, light snow is forecast to potentially affect the Fredericksburg area, especially in Stafford County.

Between Thursday morning and Friday evening, additional snow is forecast for the Fredericksburg area, and for the Northern Neck and western Middle Peninsula.

VDOT crews are mobilizing in emergency response tonight in the Fredericksburg area, where snow is forecast, and will mobilize in other geographic areas in the district early Thursday morning. Crews will work around the clock to apply sand and salt to limit icing and improve traction. Once two inches of snow have accumulated on the road, crews will begin to plow snow and slush from travel lanes. Crews will continue to work around the clock until all state-maintained roads are safe for travel.

Travelers are advised to follow news and weather sources closely this week, and to check 511Virginia for road conditions along their planned route before starting a trip. During the storm, motorists are advised to delay unnecessary travel, if possible.

Snow may mix at times with sleet, and icing is a possibility with this winter storm. Ice poses a severe travel hazard, even on treated roads. Motorists are advised to postpone travel when icy road conditions exist.

What Motorists Should Know

• Plan travel around winter weather: Once precipitation begins, roads may quickly become slippery, making travel hazardous. Travelers should monitor news and weather sources closely. Plan to arrive at your destination before inclement weather begins, and delay any unnecessary travel, if possible, until after the storm has ended and road conditions have improved.
• Check road conditions before starting a trip: Call 511, visit www.511virginia.org or download the free mobile 511Virginia app to see real-time road conditions around the state, and view traffic cameras.
• Give VDOT crews space to work. Keep a safe distance of at least five seconds behind trucks and other equipment that are plowing or treating the road. Do not pass a snowplow or spreader.
• Snowplow status updates: When two inches of snow has accumulated, VDOT Fredericksburg District will activated its online snow plow tracker map at vdotplows.org. All VDOT-owned and contracted plows are equipped with Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL), allowing them to be monitored on the snowplow tracker.

VDOT Customer Service Center

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 (367-7623) or online at https://my.vdot.virginia.gov.

Social Media

Follow VDOT on Twitter at @VaDOT and VDOT Fredericksburg District at @VaDOTFRED.

On Facebook, visit VDOT’s statewide page or join the VDOT Fredericksburg District group.

Merry Point and Sunnybank Ferries

For real-time service updates on the Merry Point Ferry and Sunnybank Ferry, check 511Virginia.

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VDOT’s 14-county Fredericksburg District includes the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford in the Fredericksburg area; Northumberland, Richmond, Lancaster and Westmoreland counties in the Northern Neck; Essex, Gloucester, King & Queen, King William, Mathews and Middlesex counties in the Middle Peninsula.

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.