TAZEWELL, Va. – As the snow continues, the Virginia Department of Transportation has spent much of Friday, Jan. 10, getting ready to treat the roads.
Although it’s always safer to stay home if you can, VDOT is ensuring the roads are drivable for those who must travel in this wintry weather.
However, when it comes to clearing the snow on our streets, the Communications Manager for the Bristol District of VDOT, Michelle Earl, said that crews prioritize those most traveled and work their way down.
“We will have our contract crews that clear the interstate, and then our VDOT crews as well as additional contract crews will focus on those primary highways, like Route 19,” said Earl. “That’s a focus area… is the main roads, and once the snow is cleared off the main roads, is when they’ll move to the secondary highways, which are number 600 and above.“
Earl explained that if can stay home, you should, but if you must drive, have an emergency car kit in your vehicle. She also advised the public to leave plenty of room for the crews to work.
“If you are travelling and encounter one of our snowplows, if you can give them ample distance, just 200 feet… just a good amount of distance so that you aren’t crowding the plow so they can do their work,” added Earl.
For more information on roadways and safety, you can check out the 511 website or app, as well as the Virginia Department of Emergency Management’s website.
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