VDOT News - Richmond

SOUTH CHESTERFIELD, Va. – Conditions are currently clear in the 14-county Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Richmond District, but more winter weather is expected to impact the region Friday night and early Saturday.

Crews will treat roads as winter weather begins – and continue to monitor and treat slick spots as they develop. Crews will continue to work around the clock in 12-hour shifts until all state-maintained roads are safe and passable.

Drivers are urged to check their local forecasts and 511 Virginia for current weather and road conditions before traveling overnight and Saturday morning.

“We can see the end of this storm, but VDOT is remaining vigilant and ready to handle whatever comes our way overnight,” said Gary Jennings, Acting Richmond District Maintenance Engineer. “We ask drivers to also remain vigilant and cautious. Even less than an inch of snow on cold pavement can create hazardous conditions.”

Tips for drivers

• Plan travel around winter storms, not during the event.
• Most traffic incidents occur within the first two hours after a storm has started.
• Drivers may encounter slow-moving equipment on the roads during winter weather events. Please make sure to give VDOT vehicles room on the roads and be aware of your surroundings.
• Reduce your speed and use extra caution during evening commutes. Icy conditions cannot be ruled out Friday night and Saturday, as air and pavement temperatures will remain cold.
• Allow more time to reach your destination and leave extra room between vehicles while driving.
• If you begin to skid, do not brake. Take your foot off the gas and steer the vehicle in the direction you want to go.

Information resources

511 Virginia

Before traveling, you can get the latest traffic conditions by using 511 Virginia. Call 511 from any phone in Virginia, visit www.511virginia.org or download the free mobile app at http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/511.asp#app.

Social media
Twitter: For area information, follow @VaDOTRVA and @511centralva

Facebook: Visit VDOT’s statewide page and follow the Richmond District group: https://www.facebook.com/VirginiaDOT

Customer service center
Report road hazards or ask road-related questions at VDOT’s 24-hour Customer Service Center by calling 800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623) or using the online form available at https://my.vdot.virginia.gov/.

Additional resources

For more winter driving information, please visit VDOT's winter weather page. 

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VDOT’s Richmond District oversees snow removal activities on approximately 19,000 lane miles of roads in 14 counties in central Virginia: Amelia, Brunswick, Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico (primary routes only), Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, New Kent, Nottoway, Powhatan and Prince George counties. Henrico County provides snow removal for their secondary roads (numbered 600 and above) and subdivision streets. Cities that provide their own snow removal include Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Petersburg and Richmond, and the towns of Ashland, Blackstone, Chase City and South Hill.

Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.