VDOT will begin pre-treatment operations on Interstate 95 and major routes in the 14-county Fredericksburg District Thursday morning with the potential for snow on Friday, Jan. 28.
Starting at 9 a.m., drivers should expect daytime delays on I-95 southbound as crews spray a brine solution beginning at exit 150/Joplin Road in Prince William County then proceed to mile marker 101 in Caroline County. Crews will then turn around at exit 98/Doswell in Hanover County and pre-treat travel lanes on I-95 northbound to exit 150.
Virginia State Police will escort the slow-moving equipment on I-95 northbound and southbound to ensure trucks applying brine and crash-cushion vehicles can all travel together. The brine trucks travel at slower speeds to spray the solution onto the road with precision and to ensure an adequate amount is absorbed in the pavement. Travelers are urged to yield and not pass the mobile operation.
Once the nearly 300 lane miles of I-95, ramps and overpasses are pretreated, brining will begin on primary roads in the Fredericksburg area, which are routes numbered 599 and below.
In the Northern Neck area, pre-treatment is already underway on primary roads and will continue Thursday.
Drivers may also experience delays on major routes along the Middle Peninsula as workers will pre-treat primary roads on Thursday ahead of a winter storm this weekend.
Crews will apply brine to as many roads as possible Thursday.
Pre-treatment helps to prevent ice from bonding to the pavement during winter weather, which can reduce the risk of hazardous travel conditions and assists crews with snow and ice removal.
Drivers should monitor local weather forecasts closely, and plan now to adjust travel on Friday and during the weekend as needed. Motorists should stay off the roads during the storm, which may affect the Fredericksburg area beginning late Friday afternoon, and continue into Saturday.
Travel is always hazardous when ice and snow are present on the road. Even on roads that have been pre-treated, conditions may quickly become slick once precipitation begins.
511Virginia
Call 511, visit www.511Virginia.org, or use VDOT’s 511Virginia free mobile app to find real-time road conditions in any area of the state.
VDOT’s Customer Service Center
VDOT’s Customer Service Center is open 24 hours a day to answer questions and take reports of roadway hazards at 1-800-FOR-ROAD (367-7623).
Additional Information
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Find VDOT Fredericksburg District news releases online on VDOT’s website, www.VirginiaDOT.org, under “Newsroom.”
