VDOT prepared for Winter Storm

As snow is falling across Hampton Roads, crews with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Hampton Roads District continue working around the clock focused on making the roadways safe for travel. Motorists are reminded not to travel until conditions improve for not only their own safety but to also allow our snowplow operators space to work safely and effectively to make the state-maintained roads passable.

A road in “passable” condition is defined as: 

• An 8- to 10-foot-wide path that provides access for emergency vehicles 
• Drivable with extreme caution, but may be snow-packed, not bare pavement or plowed curb-to-curb 
• Crews may sand hills, curves, and intersections to help with traction 

Crews began 24-hour operations Friday night, working in 12-hour shifts, treating and moving snow off the roadways. For the areas impacted by snow, bare pavement during and immediately after the end of the storm should not be expected. Roads that carry the most traffic get top priority. VDOT works to make interstates and most primary roads (routes numbered 1 to 599) passable first. Crews also focus on major secondary roads (routes numbered 600 and higher) with vital emergency and public facilities or those with high traffic volumes. Low-volume secondary roads and subdivision streets will be treated after higher-priority routes are completed and as additional resources are available. VDOT maintains all interstates, major state-maintained primary routes, and county roads in Hampton Roads. Individual municipalities maintain their own primary and secondary routes.

With temperatures increasing and sunny weather forecasted during the day on Saturday, weather conditions are favorable for crews to continue to hit the roads hard to make the roads passable. However, any moisture remaining on the roadways could cause refreeze with temperatures dropping below freezing on Saturday night. Crews will continue to work through the evening to monitor and treat icy spots on the roadways, as well as areas prone to freezing first such as overpasses, bridges, ramps and shaded areas.

With the potential for icy, hazardous travel conditions, motorists should monitor the local forecasts and changing road conditions and be prepared to avoid or adjust travel as needed. VDOT will continue to monitor road surfaces, and crews will treat and address the roads as necessary over the next several days.