Old Dominion News

Interstate and primary road conditions in the Shenandoah Valley and Alleghany Highlands have seen significant improvement following Tuesday's snowstorm. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Staunton District is now focusing on secondary roads, with crews and contractors actively working throughout the region.

However, freezing rain is anticipated to affect parts of the area on Wednesday afternoon and evening. This weather event could lead to hazardous ice formation, particularly on bridges and untreated surfaces. Additional risks include fallen trees or limbs, as well as standing water resulting from rainfall and melting snow. VDOT advises motorists to delay non-essential travel until conditions are safer.

VDOT crews continue plowing and treating roadways across the 11-county Staunton District. As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, here are the reported conditions:

- Interstate 64: Minor conditions in Alleghany and Augusta counties; clear in Rockbridge County.

- Interstate 66: Clear conditions in Warren County.

- Interstate 81: Minor conditions in Augusta County; clear in Rockbridge, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Frederick counties.

- Primary roads: Minor conditions in several counties including Alleghany, Bath, Rockbridge; clear in Shenandoah and Warren counties.

- Secondary roads: Moderate conditions in multiple counties; minor conditions in Highland and Warren counties.

Weather and road situations vary widely across the state. For those who must travel, checking local weather sources and road conditions at 511Virginia before departure is recommended.

The updated URL for 511Virginia is https://511.vdot.virginia.gov/, with apps available for Android and iOS devices. The service provides traffic cameras, crash locations, weather updates, among other features. Public sign-up for alerts sent directly to personal devices is also available.

Road condition categories are defined as follows:

- Closed: Road inaccessible to all traffic.

- Severe: Drifting or partially blocked roads.

- Moderate: Snow or ice covering major portions of the roadway.

- Minor: Mostly bare pavement with isolated spots of snow, ice or slush.

VDOT prioritizes snow removal on state-maintained roads according to specific guidelines:

1. The Interstate Highway System and limited-access roadways are prioritized first.

2. Primary roads (routes numbered 1 to 599) along with major secondary routes will be cleared next as resources allow.

3. Low-volume secondary roads will be treated after higher-priority routes are completed.

Additional information can be found on VDOT's website at https://www.vdot.virginia.gov/. Their Customer Service Center offers assistance via a mobile-friendly site at https://my.vdot.virginia.gov/ or by calling 800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623).

Social media updates from the Staunton District can be followed on X (Twitter) @VaDOTStaunton or their Facebook group page. Statewide accounts are accessible on Facebook, Flickr, and YouTube.

The VDOT Staunton District serves several counties including Frederick, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge, Alleghany, and Bath.