Monday Morning Roads – Too Soon to Commute

STAUNTON (4:30 a.m.) – Snow and ice persist early Monday morning on most roadways in the Shenandoah Valley and Alleghany Highlands. The Virginia Department of Transportation continues a multi-day effort to plow and treat roadways throughout the region. Conditions have improved since the end of the winter storm, but motorists should delay non-essential travel until at least mid-day Monday.

More than 1,100 trucks have been plowing roadways throughout the 11-county Staunton District since Saturday evening. VDOT crews and contractors are working around the clock on rotating 12-hour shifts. Extreme cold will extend the time needed to complete plowing operations, and may cause refreezing on roads previously plowed and treated.

Plowing focuses first on interstates and primary routes, and may not reach all subdivisions for several days. Staying off the roads can help VDOT crews clear them sooner. When vehicles begin driving on covered secondary roads and neighborhood streets, snow and sleet become packed down and increasingly challenging for snowplows to reach bare pavement.

Here are the conditions as of 4:30 a.m. Monday in the VDOT Staunton District:

Interstate 81 – Moderate conditions in Augusta, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Warren and Frederick counties. Minor conditions in Rockbridge County.

Interstate 64 – Moderate conditions in Alleghany and Augusta counties. Minor conditions in Rockbridge County.

Interstate 66 – Moderate conditions in Warren County.

Primary Roads – Moderate conditions in Alleghany, Bath, Rockbridge, Augusta, Rockingham, Page, Shenandoah, Frederick, Clarke and Warren counties. Minor conditions in Highland County.

Secondary Roads – Moderate conditions in Alleghany, Bath, Rockbridge, Highland, Augusta, Rockingham, Page, Shenandoah, Frederick, Clarke and Warren counties.

For road-condition updates and travel information visit the 511 Virginia website, download the mobile app or dial 511. Motorists should check their entire route as conditions will vary throughout Virginia, to include dangerous ice accumulations in the southern part of the Commonwealth. 511 Virginia shows road conditions on a color-coded map and in county-by-county text listings. Conditions are defined as:

• Minor – bare pavement except for isolated spots of snow, ice or slush.
• Moderate – snow or ice on major portions of the road.
• Severe – drifting or partially blocked road.
• Closed – road is closed to all traffic.

The VDOT Customer Service Center operates 24/7 to help roadway users report potential hazards, make service requests or get information related to Virginia’s transportation network. Use its mobile friendly website or call 800-367-7623.

The VDOT Staunton District serves Frederick, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge, Alleghany and Bath counties. Follow the Staunton District on Facebook and X.

The VDOT website has winter weather travel tips, news releases, and links to social media accounts for VDOT districts throughout the Commonwealth.