CULPEPER — Virginia Department of Transportation crews spent most of Tuesday making final preparations for the winter storm that is forecast to arrive early Wednesday. Motorists should plan travel around the storm by arriving at their destination in advance of the storm or postponing travel until road conditions improve.
Crews in VDOT’s Culpeper District will report to work by midnight Wednesday to ready trucks and monitor road conditions. Once the storm begins, snowplows will spread a mix of sand and salt to improve traction and help melt the precipitation as it falls. When the snow accumulates to about two inches, the plows will push the slushy mix off the roadways.
VDOT crews will work around the clock to clear roads, beginning with interstates and primary highways, then shifting to secondary roads and neighborhoods once the main roads are passable. VDOT’s goal is to make all roads passable within 48 hours after precipitation ends.
VDOT is coordinating with utility partners and tree removal contractors to work together to quickly reopen roads blocked by downed trees and utility lines during the storm.
Motorists are urged to avoid unnecessary travel during the storm. Travel is hazardous during winter weather and passenger vehicles on the road can interfere with snowplow operations and emergency services. If travel is a must during the storm, motorists are encouraged to check road conditions using VDOT’s free 511 toolsto know road conditions along their route and at their destination.
Additional information about winter-weather preparations and response can be found at www.virginiadot.org/travel/snow.asp. Local updates are posted to Twitter.com/VaDOTCulp and on the district’s snow information webpage.