The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) reports that it will have all of its resources on-hand for tomorrow's powerful storm, expected to bring extreme snow accumulations and blizzard-like conditions to Northern Virginia.
"We ask that drivers prepare now to stay home tomorrow and Saturday," said Branco Vlacich, VDOT's district maintenance engineer for Northern Virginia.
"For the public safety and the safety of VDOT employees, it will be vital to stay off the roads those two days as the storm comes through. Our crews are preparing for heavy accumulation, limited visibility and severe road conditions, and they will need the roads to be clear of traffic to make repeated passes on roads throughout the storm."
Preparations
Adding to residual treatment left from last night's storm, crews continue to pre-treat major roads and trouble spots today in Loudoun, Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William Counties. On interstate bridges and ramps prone to freezing such as the Springfield interchange, I-66 at Route 29 and the Capital Beltway at Route 1, crews use liquid magnesium chloride. On other major roads, such as the Fairfax County Parkway and routes 1, 7, 28, 29, and 50, problem spots will be pre-treated with salt brine.
About 4,000 trucks will begin reporting at 7 p.m. tonight to load materials and then stage along interstates, major roads and subdivision streets in Northern Virginia. Interstate, major roads and subdivisions will be plowed simultaneously.
What Drivers and Residents Should Do Now
- Make plans now to stay off the roads both Friday and Saturday. With two days of snow, road conditions are expected to be treacherous, with limited visibility and blizzard-like conditions. Crews will need as much room as possible to plow and treat roads.
- Park in driveways or on the odd-numbered side of the street before the snow begins, to allow plows to clear the road ahead.
Resources
- When two inches has accumulated, check truck progress and neighborhood status 24/7 at www.vdotplows.org
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