(update 6:20 pm) SALEM – The Virginia Department of Transportation has made good progress today on plowing and treating roads throughout western Virginia. Interstates and primary routes are in clear to minor condition, which means they are mostly clear with isolated slick spots. Today, crews have been treating secondary roads (those numbered 600 and above) and neighborhood streets but icy patches are remaining. Many of these routes have been plowed or treated, but crews will continue working tonight and into tomorrow.
Equipment operators have been pushing slushy areas where possible, plowing snow on routes where it accumulated, and treating icy roads with salt and abrasives. Crews also have been responding to downed trees on roadways. Heavy equipment is being used on mountaintop routes and other colder areas to remove frozen slush and ice from locations where it has bonded to roadways.
Refreezing is a concern tonight and into tomorrow as any wet roads will become icy as temperatures fall well below freezing overnight. Drivers should not expect bare pavement as icy patches remain on plowed and treated roads and wet areas will refreeze overnight.
