Snow flurries are moving into Hampton Roads and may continue through Tuesday morning. Here's what local cities and VDOT are doing to prepare for slick roads:
VDOT:
The Virginia Department of Transportation is aware of the threat of possible flurries, and is keeping an eye on bridge deck and pavement temperatures, but has no plans at this point.
VIRGINIA BEACH:
3,000 tons of salt and sand are already mixed for the season, and the city is prepared to make another 3,000. Frost patrol will be headed out at 2:30am to monitor bridges and overpasses.
PORTSMOUTH:
The city will be checking 35 bridges and overpasses in the city and their salt storage facility is at capacity. Equipment is ready to go.
WILLIAMSBURG:
The city is monitoring the forecasts and has about 400 tons of salt/sand mix at the ready. They don’t do any type of overnight patrol or road preparation.
NORFOLK:
The city has mounted a few spreaders on trucks and have salt/sand mix already prepped to load. Spreader trucks will be ready to respond to possible icy conditions from water breaks or some underpasses that have water percolating onto the pavement.
CHESAPEAKE:
The City of Chesapeake team is closely monitoring the weather conditions. Public Works crews will be checking bridges and overpasses as conditions warrant, since they are the first freeze points.
At this time, the city does not intend to apply brine solution, given the rain/snow mix forecast. Brine is not effective in storms that start with rain, as it just washes off.
The city has ample supplies of salt/sand, and about 30 trucks ready, should the need arise. Plowing is not likely going to be needed this time, as there needs to be at least 2 inches of snow on the roads for plows to be effective.
NEWPORT NEWS:
The city has 465 tons of sand, 462 tons of salt, and 10,000 gallons of salt brine on hand at this time along with 9 spreaders, 18 snow plows and 3 brine units ready and available for the season if needed.
HAMPTON:
Hampton is not expecting tonight’s weather to have much of an impact on roads, but will monitor the roads and send out crews if necessary.
The city has on hand 2,000 gallons of brine, 1,000 tons of salt, 25 snow plows, and more than 130 employees trained on snow removal equipment.
As far as the most vulnerable population, the homeless, the HELP have a Day Center is open daily in Buckroe for showers, laundry service, job training, case management and warmth.
The Nights Welcome program for overnight shelter is operating this week at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church at 99 Mercury Boulevard, reports Director Charlotte Dillow.
JAMES CITY COUNTY:
County officials continue to monitor weather forecasts. VDOT is responsible for the roads.
