Salem District: Ice and snow continue so nonessential travel is not advised

SALEM — Snow, sleet and freezing rain continue to fall in parts of western Virginia with temperatures below freezing. Residents should avoid nonessential travel to allow crews to make progress on plowing and treating roads.

Virginia Department of Transportation crews and contractors currently are focusing most of their snow-removal efforts on treating interstate and primary roads. They are applying salt along with sand or abrasives to help increase vehicle traction on icy roadways.

Interstates and primary roads (those numbered 1-599) are covered in snow or ice or still have icy patches, and precipitation and below freezing temperatures are expected to continue throughout the morning.  

Low volume secondary roads (those numbered 600 and above) and neighborhood streets have not been plowed or treated and remain covered in frozen snow and ice.

Road conditions are expected to improve once precipitation stops and equipment operators can make more progress on plowing and treating roads. Drivers should not expect bare pavement until temperatures rise.

If travel is absolutely essential, check roadway conditions by using VDOT’s free 511 mobile app, which offers information about road conditions, traffic, incidents, construction and congestion as well as access to traffic cameras, weather and more. Information is also available at 511.vdot.virginia.gov or by calling 511 while in Virginia.

For questions or to report hazardous road conditions, contact VDOT’s 24-hour Customer Service Center by visiting my.vdot.virginia.gov or calling 800-FOR-ROAD (367-7623).

The 12-county VDOT Salem District includes the counties of Bedford, Botetourt, Carroll, Craig, Franklin, Floyd, Giles, Henry, Montgomery, Patrick, Pulaski and Roanoke.