Old Dominion News

A winter storm is affecting the Fredericksburg area, Northern Neck, and Middle Peninsula, prompting officials to advise against travel. Snowfall is expected to persist through Thursday morning, leading to hazardous travel conditions with limited visibility, slick roads, and freezing temperatures.

Currently, Interstate 95 in the Fredericksburg area remains clear. However, primary roads in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula have minor conditions in some spots with isolated snow patches on travel lanes. As snowfall continues, road conditions are anticipated to worsen. Secondary roads and grassy areas are accumulating snow.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has deployed around 1,100 pieces of equipment across the district for snow plowing and treatment application. Plowing operations begin once snow reaches a depth of two inches on the roads. VDOT crews are working continuously in 12-hour shifts throughout the storm and its aftermath to ensure state-maintained roads are passable.

In preparation for the storm, VDOT pre-treated I-95 and primary roads with a brine solution designed to prevent snow adhesion to pavement surfaces. Despite this treatment, roadways will remain slick.

Officials stress that avoiding road travel is the safest option as it allows crews more efficiency in clearing snow and applying treatments.

VDOT's priority is making interstates and primary routes passable first—these include routes numbered 1 to 599 and Route 610 in Stafford County. Crews also focus on major secondary roads connecting essential facilities or having high traffic volumes. Once these routes improve, attention shifts to low-volume secondary roads and subdivision streets.

For a road to be considered "passable," an eight- to ten-foot-wide path must be cleared for emergency vehicles. While such roads may still be snow-packed without bare pavement or curb-to-curb plowing, hills, curves, and intersections will receive sand for better traction.

Residents can check road conditions at 511.vdot.virginia.gov or report hazards via VDOT's Customer Service Center at 800-FOR-ROAD (367-7623). Further information on snow removal can be found on VDOT's weather page.