VDOT News - Richmond

SOUTH CHESTERFIELD, Va. – Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Richmond District crews are on the move again to ensure that roads remain safe ahead of an expected winter storm, which could impact the district starting early Sunday.

Beginning early Friday, crews across the district started preparing equipment and pretreating interstate, primary, and high volume secondary routes with a saltwater brine to prevent ice from bonding with the pavement. Pretreating will continue through daylight hours Friday and any outstanding roads will be pretreated during Saturday daylight hours.

Crews are working now to prepare and load equipment before reporting late Saturday-early Sunday in anticipation of the storm. Once precipitation begins, crews will work in 24-hour operations until all roads are safe and passable.

Additional Safety Service Patrol vehicles will be on the interstates starting at midnight Sunday to assist with traffic incidents.

 Tips for drivers

• The safest place during a winter storm is indoors.
• If drivers stay off the roads during a storm, transportation workers and public safety officials are better able to plow roadways and respond to emergency needs quicker.
• If you must drive, give snow plows plenty of room (at least 100 feet) and don't pass them.
• Avoid parking along the street in your neighborhood. Snow plows are wide, and plow drivers may not be able to access and plow the road if parked cars are blocking the path.

 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.