VDOT: Crews Working Overnight in Central Virginia - NBC29 WVIR Charlottesville, VA News, Sports and Weather

VDOT: Crews Working Overnight in Central Virginia

VDOT Press Release

CULPEPER —Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews are working across Central Virginia as Hurricane Sandy's winds and rain intensify. Weather conditions are forecast to worsen overnight with high winds, heavy rain and snow in the Blue Ridge Mountains and the higher elevations near the mountains.

As of 4 p.m. no road closures have been reported in the nine counties of VDOT's Culpeper District. Temperatures are falling, however, and snow showers have been reported in the mountains.

VDOT crews have begun emergency operations, working around the clock and preparing to respond to clear downed trees and other roadway debris. Snowplows are fueled and loaded in the western counties, ready to remove snow on Interstate 64 and Route 250 in Albemarle County, on the mountain passes in Greene and Rappahannock counties and I-66 in Fauquier County.

VDOT recommends drivers avoid travel overnight on Monday and on Tuesday morning when the worst of Hurricane Sandy is expected to affect Central Virginia. Conditions are likely to change quickly during the height of the storm. Motorists are advised to tune in to local media for the latest weather information, and observe the following precautions:

• Watch for tree limbs and other debris in the roadway. Even small branches can damage a vehicle or cause the motorist to lose control.
• Assume all fallen power lines are electrified and dangerous. Never attempt to drive across or step over downed lines.
• If a traffic signal is out, treat the intersection as a four-way stop.
• Never drive around barricades. Remember, the road has been closed for your safety.
• Expect the unexpected. Reduce speed and be prepared to stop without warning.

Real-time road conditions and weather forecasts are available on VDOT's traffic and travel Web site,www.511Virginia.org. The site also has live traffic camera images for many major highways, including Interstate 64, I-66 and Routes 29 and 250 in Central Virginia. Motorists can call 511 from any telephone in Virginia for road and traffic conditions on all major highways in the state.