VDOT News - Richmond

SOUTH CHESTERFIELD, Va. – Drivers are urged to use caution and monitor the forecast for their entire route in the 14-county Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Richmond District late Saturday, Feb. 11 through the early hours of Sunday, Feb. 12, as heavy rain could transition to periods of snow and sleet.

Pavement temperatures are expected to remain above freezing for the duration of the event. No accumulating snow is expected on road surfaces, but crews will be watching closely.

Any slick conditions will be addressed with a combination of salt (which melts ice) and/or sand (which provides traction). Crews will plow snow if additional accumulation develops.

Drivers are reminded to use extra caution during travel and to monitor your local forecast as conditions can rapidly change.

“Whether snow develops or not, drivers still need extra awareness when traveling this weekend,” said Tanveer Chowdhury, PE, Richmond District Maintenance Engineer. “High water due to periods of heavy rain could also be an issue.”

Tips for drivers

• Never drive through standing water, or around road closure signs and barriers. High water road closures are in place for your safety, and unseen hazards such as active power lines may be beneath the water’s surface.
• Check local forecasts and road conditions in your area before traveling.
• If pavement becomes icy and you begin to skid, do not brake. Lift your foot off the gas pedal and steer your vehicle in the direction you want to go.

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.