PREPARE NOW TO AVOID TRAVEL DURING AND AFTER WEEKEND WINTER STORM IN HAMPTON ROADS • Portsmouth, VA

Virginia Department of Transportation Hampton Roads — With vital winter climate forecasted to affect Hampton Roads starting early Saturday and persevering with via the weekend, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is urging motorists to complete preparations at present and keep away from journey throughout and after the storm till roadway situations enhance.

Snow, sturdy winds, and extended freezing temperatures forecasted with this storm are anticipated to create hazardous journey and roadway situations throughout the area. Based on present forecasts, this storm is anticipated to require multi-day snow removing operations, and motorists must be ready to remain off the roads for their very own security and to permit crews the area wanted to securely and effectively handle the roadways.

Crews with VDOT Hampton Roads started pretreating state-maintained roadways on Thursday, Jan. 29, and have continued preparations by monitoring climate forecasts, coordinating logistics and mobilization plans, getting ready tools, and making certain supplies are prepared. Once winter climate begins, crews will work across the clock in 12-hour shifts to plow snow and deal with roadways as situations enable.

The weekend storm is anticipated to carry heavy snow and excessive winds, hampering visibility and requiring plows to make a number of passes on interstates and first roads till the snowfall and winds taper off. Snow removing operations can take time, and motorists mustn’t anticipate to see naked pavement throughout — and for a interval after — the storm. Due to the anticipated fee of snowfall and excessive winds, snowplows might want to make a number of passes all through the storm to take away snow because it accumulates or drifts again onto the roadwa

Roads that carry essentially the most site visitors get prime precedence. VDOT focuses first on the interstates, adopted by state-maintained main roads (routes numbered 1 via 599) and main secondary roads (routes numbered 600 and better) with important emergency and public amenities or excessive site visitors volumes, as assets enable. Low-volume secondary roads and subdivision streets might be handled after higher-priority routes are accomplished and as extra assets can be found.

Before and through the storm, crews are in a position to work extra successfully after they have room on the roadways. Motorists mustn’t crowd snowplows or spreader vans. Drivers mustn’t go a snowplow until completely vital and mustn’t comply with too intently, as plow operators have restricted visibility and should make frequent stops.

For the protection of motorists, VDOT crews and emergency responders, journey must be prevented through the storm and afterward till situations enhance. If journey is totally important, drivers ought to use excessive warning and test roadway situations earlier than heading out.

Due to forecasted sturdy winds, snow, and potential tidal impacts, the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry might expertise intermittent service suspension through the storm.

VDOT maintains all interstates, main state-maintained main routes and county roads in Hampton Roads. Individual municipalities keep their very own main and secondary roadways.

Additional Resources:

• 511 Virginia Traffic Tools: Before touring, test roadway situations by utilizing VDOT’s free 511 cell app, which presents details about street situations, site visitors, incidents, development and congestion in addition to entry to site visitors cameras, climate and extra. Information can be accessible at 511.vdot.virginia.gov or by calling 511 whereas in Virginia. 

• VDOT Customer Service Center: To report hazardous street situations on state-maintained roadways, motorists can contact VDOT’s 24-hour Customer Service Center by visiting my.vdot.virginia.gov or calling 800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623).