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3 p.m. Wednesday - According to the following press release from VDOT at 11 this morning, road conditions have improved in the Rockbridge area.
Interstate and primary road conditions in the Shenandoah Valley and Alleghany Highlands have improved significantly since Tuesday’s snowstorm. Secondary roads are a key focus on Wednesday for crews and contractors throughout the Virginia Department of Transportation Staunton District.
Freezing rain is expected in parts of the region Wednesday afternoon and evening. This could cause dangerous ice to form, especially on bridges and untreated surfaces. Hazards may also include fallen trees or limbs, and standing water due to rainfall and melting snow. VDOT advises motorists to postpone non-essential travel until conditions improve.
VDOT crews and contractors continue to plow and treat roadways throughout the 11-county Staunton District. Here are the conditions as of 11 a.m. Wednesday:
Interstate 64 – Minor conditions in Alleghany and Augusta counties. Clear conditions in Rockbridge County.
Interstate 81 – Minor conditions in Augusta County. Clear conditions in Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah and Frederick counties.
Primary roads – Minor conditions in Alleghany, Bath, Rockbridge, Highland, Augusta, Rockingham, Page, Frederick and Clarke counties. Clear conditions in Shenandoah and Warren counties.
Secondary roads – Moderate conditions in Alleghany, Bath, Rockbridge, Augusta, Rockingham, Page, Shenandoah, Frederick and Clarke counties. Minor conditions in Highland and Warren counties.
Weather and road conditions vary significantly around the state. If travel is essential, check local weather sources and road conditions at 511Virginia for your entire route before leaving.
The updated URL and website for 511Virginia is https://511.vdot.virginia.gov/. Apps are also available for Android and iOS devices. 511 has traffic cameras, current crash locations, weather conditions and more. The public can sign-up for 511 alerts to be sent to their personal device. Roads with snow and ice conditions are marked minor, moderate, severe or closed.
Road condition definitions:
- Closed – Road is closed to all traffic.
- Severe – drifting or partially blocked road.
- Moderate – snow or ice on major portions of the roadway.
- Minor – bare pavement except for isolated spots of snow, ice or slush. Driving with caution is recommended.
VDOT is responsible for snow removal on all state-maintained roads as follows:
- The Interstate Highway System and limited-access roadways are VDOT’s first priority.
- Primary roads (routes numbered 1 to 599) and major secondary routes (numbered 600 and up) with vital emergency and public facilities, or those with high-traffic volumes, will be cleared along with interstate and limited-access roadways as resources allow.
- Low-volume secondary roads and subdivision streets will be treated after higher-priority routes are completed and additional resources are available.
