The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) advises drivers to continue to avoid travel with road conditions remaining either slick, slushy or snow covered across the 14-county Fredericksburg District.
Interstate 95 is in minor condition meaning visible pavement with patches of snow and slush.
Primary roads and high volume secondary roads remain in minor to moderate condition, which means snow and slush are on major portions of the roadways. Many secondary roads and subdivision streets are snow covered.
Crews are making repeated passes to clear and treat I-95, primary and high volume secondary roads. As conditions improve, crews will then advance into subdivision streets and lower volume secondary roads.
Roads may appear clear in some locations but conditions are still slippery with freezing rain in some areas, wet pavement and possible ponding.
VDOT encourages drivers to avoid travel since it’s the safest choice. It also gives crews additional space to treat road surfaces and plow accumulated snow and slush from the travel lanes.
More than 530 trucks are mobilized and will remain in emergency operations, working 24 hours a day, in 12 hour shifts, until all state maintained roads are safe for travel.
What Residents Should Know
· If travel is essential:
o Plan to allow extra travel time
o Reduce your vehicle speed
o Increase following distance between vehicles
o Use EXTREME caution
· Clean snow and ice from your vehicle before starting a trip. This will improve your visibility of the road ahead, and it will prevent snow and ice from becoming a flying debris hazard for other travelers.
· Remember to move over and slow down for stopped vehicles with flashing, blinking or alternating blue, red or amber lights.
· Be alert for tree debris in the roadway as snow weighs down trees and tree limbs. Report any downed trees or other hazards in the road to VDOT’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-FOR-ROAD (367-7623).
Colonial Beach News 