BLUEFIELD, W.Va. – Leaders with the West Virginia Division of Highways and the Virginia Department of Transportation both report that they will have crews working around the clock for anticipated winter weather in the Two Virginias.
Both government agencies say they have been preparing for the winter weather for months by making sure plows and other equipment are ready to go.
“We have in the Bristol district which is twelve counties, we have about 845 pieces of equipment. They all may not be out this storm because we don’t anticipate a huge storm this time. We will have crews out over night tonight monitoring conditions as well as into the day tomorrow,” said Michelle Earl, Bristol District Communications Manager for VDOT.
Earl as well as Ryland Musick, an engineer with the WVDOH say they have an abundance of salt and abrasive materials at the ready. The two say treating the roadways will depend on what the conditions are and what shape the roadways are in.
“Normally we have a standard mix that we use. There are certain times that we may use an abrasive mix with salt and abrasives. Sometimes with certain weather conditions, particularly with real heavy ice or snow we may actually go to straight salt,” said Musick.
Crews say they will prioritize roadways that are more traveled first as they work in the coming days.
“The interstates are our first priority and we have contractors who clear those. Then our VDOT crews can focus on primary highways once those primary highways are clear and the snow has stopped falling they’ll move to those secondary roads. Those are routes numbered 600 and above,” said Earl.
“Our system of snow removal and ice control is to make sure the roads are treated on a priority basis. Priority one through priority four. Basically from the interstate routes on down to the expressways. The higher volume two lane roads down to the actual county routes,” said Musick.
Both Musick and Earl says people should give crews treating roadways plenty of room to work. You should avoid crowding snow plows and try to stay at least 100 feet back.
The two urge motorists to slow down when snow or ice may be present on roadways. They also encourage motorists to use West Virginia and Virginia’s 511 road conditions map.
511 cell phone apps can be downloaded for each state or you can view Virginia’s 511 map here and West Virginia’s here.
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