Track VDOT Snow Plowing Efforts

Posted 9:09 a.m.

The Virginia Department of Transportation handles snow removal on most roads in Fairfax County. If you’re wondering about the status of plowing on major and secondary roads, check out VDOT’s new snow plowing map.

Learn how it works in this video:

Major routes are treated with chemicals and plowed once two inches have fallen. In subdivisions and other low volume roads hills and other trouble spots are treated with sand and plowed when two inches have accumulated.

In Northern Virginia, VDOT has one snow removal program for high volume roads such has Interstates 66, 95, 395, 495, Routes 1, 7, 15, 28, 50, Fairfax County Parkway, etc.), and another snow removal program for subdivisions (main thoroughfares in neighborhoods, residential streets and cul de sacs). Therefore, crews will be working on high volume roads and in subdivisions concurrently. Within each of these programs, roads with the highest traffic volumes are cleared first.

VDOT reminds motorists to use caution when driving during wintry weather. Drivers should:

• Check current weather, road conditions and traffic before traveling at www.511Virginia.org or by calling 511
• Slow down and allow for extra time to reach your destination
• Be aware of potentially icy areas such as shady spots and bridges
• Keep a safe distance of at least five seconds behind other vehicles and trucks that are plowing the road

Six Morning Commute Tips

Posted 5:05 a.m.

If you plan to drive or take transit this morning, please use your best judgment and keep in mind these quick tips so you arrive safely and keep others safe, too. These will also be important as the day progresses and the storm gets worse.

1.) Some snow has already fallen. Clean your car off completely. Use headlights, too!

2.) Slow down and allow for extra time to reach your destination. Slowing down is also a good idea since slippery roads mean less stopping time.

3.) Be aware of potentially icy areas such as shady spots and bridges.

4.) Keep a safe distance of at least five seconds behind other vehicles.

5.) Stay in the car if visibility becomes poor later today. You may become disoriented and lost while wandering in a snowstorm. If you have a cellphone, call for help. Have a few supplies in your car such as a blanket and some food.

6.) Drivers, watch out for pedestrians and pedestrians watch out for drivers. Let’s all get to our destinations safely and take our time.

Here are some more tips from VDOT:

Traffic Lights Out; Obey Four Way Stops

Posted 8:11 a.m.

There are many intersections in Fairfax County right now that are without working traffic lights. If you go out today, drive with caution and PLEASE obey 4-way stop rules at intersections without power.

• Treat each traffic light as a four-way stop, with the driver on the right having the right-of-way.
• Proceed with caution only when traffic permits.
• Enter intersections only when it is safe to do so, using turn signals to let other motorists know your intentions.
• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
• Watch out for and obey police officers directing traffic within intersections.

Traffic Updates for Hurricane Sandy

Posted 7:27 a.m.

More than 400 Virginia Department of Transportation crewmembers have begun 12-hour shifts monitoring roadways in Northern Virginia. Our county police are monitoring roadways, as well.

As conditions in Northern Virginia will deteriorate throughout the day, drivers are asked to make every effort to be off the road. Please, get where you need to be before the weather gets bad (and plan to stay awhile!). Make every effort to be off the road during heavy rains and tropical-storm force winds.

If you are driving and encounter flooded roadways, “turn around, don’t drown.” Water may be much deeper than you think.

If you encounter traffic lights without power, drivers are reminded to obey four-way stop rules at intersections without power.

• Treat each traffic light as a four-way stop, with the driver on the right having the right-of-way.
• Proceed with caution only when traffic permits.
• Enter intersections only when it is safe to do so, using turn signals to let other motorists know your intentions.
• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
• Watch out for and obey police officers directing traffic within intersections.

High water on roads in flood-prone areas, traffic signal outages, and road closures due to debris, downed trees and power lines are expected over the next several days.

VDOT reminds drivers:

• Slow down on wet roads to avoid hydroplaning.
• Ensure vehicles have adequate fuel to complete trips during power outages.

We will post road closure updates here on this blog as we receive them. You can also get the latest road conditions at www.511virginia.org or by downloading the 511 mobile app.

View the entire list of roads closed due to the storm, sortable by county, at http://www.511virginia.org/mobile/?menu_id=conditions.

Car Preparedness: Fairfax Prepares Day 28

Posted 2:40 p.m.

In our recent emergency information survey, we asked about steps you have taken to be prepared. Two-thirds of respondents indicated that home preparedness kits have been created, far exceeding typical preparedness numbers nationwide. Many of our tips in this series address items you should include in your kits.

But what about your car?

Many of us drive in our community, be it across the county, into D.C. or other neighboring jurisdictions. It’s no secret many of us commute, often for long periods of time.

If you drive, then please consider a small stash of supplies for your vehicle. Only about 33 percent of survey respondents indicated they have supplies in their cars.

What should be in a car preparedness kit? Here’s a sampling of ideas across all seasons:

• Blanket
• Clothes with warm, comfortable footwear
• Diapers if you have children
• First-aid kit 
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Food, such as snack bars
• Ice scraper/brush and snow shovel
• Jumper cables
• Knife
• Maps
• Paper towels
• Phone charger
• Plastic bag with seal for waste
• Sand, salt or kitty litter
• Sign to request help
• Soap
• Towels
• Water

Also, it’s critical to ensure you have at least a quarter tank of gas in case there are massive traffic delays. You may recall the January 2011 snowstorm that caused many people to be on the roads for 10+ hours. Try to always be prepared with gas and many of the supplies listed above.

THE ASK: Find a small bag and place in your car with as many items listed above as possible.

TELL US you’ve done this:

• Post a quick reply in this blog’s comments section below such as “I’ve done this.”
• Use the Twitter hashtag #fairfaxprepares and tweet your accomplishment. Include photos if you’d like.
• Like our special Facebook page for this campaign to leave comments and share tips with your friends.
• Email us at publicaffairs@fairfaxcounty.gov that you accomplished an ask.

SHARE THIS TIP:

• Click the links below to email, share on social media or print a hard copy. Thanks!