VDOT News - Richmond

SOUTH CHESTERFIELD, Va. – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Richmond District urges drivers to use extra caution if they must travel Friday morning as a freezing drizzle ends and cold temperatures persist. Black ice may be present until temperatures rise and pavement dries out.

Crews are monitoring roads for black ice and treating any slick spots with salt and sand. Those traveling this morning should use extra caution, especially in areas more likely to freeze first (cold spots, ramps, overpasses and bridges). Drivers should allow extra time to reach their destinations and reduce their speed.

“The safety of the traveling public is our top priority,” said Richmond District Infrastructure Manager Steve Fritton. “We’re asking drivers to use extra caution this morning because slick spots can occur anywhere and develop without warning. When the temperature is below freezing and the pavement is wet, the conditions are prime for the instantaneous formation of black ice.”

Some roads closed due to flooding

Localized flooding may also impact some low-lying routes due to heavy precipitation in recent weeks. Please do not drive around or move road closure signs and barriers, and never drive through standing water. Unknown hazards such as active power lines could be beneath the water’s surface. Flooded routes will be reopened in the coming days once high water subsides and inspections are completed.

Saturday recovery effort resumes

Once crews finish addressing slick spots from Thursday’s weather, the recovery effort from the ice storm on Saturday, Feb. 13 will resume. Leftover tree debris will be removed from the roadsides in the coming weeks, and remaining power lines in roads will be addressed in close coordination with utility providers. Finally, crews will be patching potholes that have developed on roadways, particularly interstate routes, following repeated freeze/thaw cycles.

Other resources 

• Report road hazards to VDOT at 800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623) or visit my.vdot.virginia.gov.

• Check 511virginia.org for the latest road conditions near you.

• Twitter: For area information, follow @VaDOTRVA and @511centralva

• Facebook: Visit VDOT’s statewide page and follow the Richmond District group: https://www.facebook.com/VirginiaDOT.

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VDOT’s Richmond District oversees road maintenance activities on approximately 19,000 lane miles of roads in 14 counties in central Virginia: Amelia, Brunswick, Charles City, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico (primary routes only), Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, New Kent, Nottoway, Powhatan and Prince George counties. Henrico County provides road maintenance for their secondary roads (numbered 600 and above) and subdivision streets. Cities that provide their own road maintenance include Colonial Heights, Hopewell, Petersburg and Richmond, and the towns of Ashland, Blackstone, Chase City and South Hill.

Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.