State sets new snow, ice removal plan

By Staff

Published: November 16, 2008

The Virginia Department of Transportation will use a new technique this winter to clear snow and ice covered streets.

The agency will use a new mixture of use anti-icing chemicals including salt brine, magnesium-chloride and calcium-chloride around the state this winter and, with success, will expand the program in future winter seasons.

The state said they have a budget of $75.8 million to use for snow removal this year. They worked over the summer to prepare 3,200 crew members and nearly 4,000 pieces of snow removal equipment in advance of Old Man Winter.

“VDOT prepares for emergencies year-round, and our winter weather preparations begin during the hot summer months so that we are ready whenever winter arrives,” David S. Ekern, VDOT commissioner, said in a released statement. “We are passionate about our emergency response mission, and VDOT crews and our private-sector partners practice techniques, test equipment and stock supplies so that we can keep Virginia’s roadways as safe as possible.”

If the weather gets really bad, the agency said they also have more than 4,000 pieces of equipment, which will be operated by contractors, ready to go.

There have been hints from local Washington, D.C. television weatherman Doug Hill that this winter may be worse than previous years.

When winter weather does hit the Northern Virginia area, it brings with it the often used term “mixed bag” of precipitation. That usually means a mixture of snow, ice, sleet and rain.

The further south or east you travel in the region you are more likely to see rain. The further north or west, chances are you’ll see snow.

Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park always seem to fall into the area of uncertainty when forecasters try to give their best estimates on how much snow, if any, will fall.

But no matter where it comes the state said they are ready with 234,000 tons of salt and 62,200 tons of sand on hand this year.

Ekern added VDOT plans to have the all of publically maintained roads cleared within 48-hours of the storm.

Crews begin by clearing interstates, primary roads and major secondary roads that connect localities, fire stations, employment hubs, military posts, schools, hospitals and other important public facilities. Secondary roads and subdivision streets will be treated if multi-day storms hit the commonwealth, but crews will focus efforts on those roads that carry the most traffic, he said.