VDOT says cleanup of downed trees and debris from the Jan. 3 winter storm has finished along Interstate 95 in the Fredericksburg area, allowing crews to concentrate on finishing debris removal along primary and secondary roads in Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford counties.
Currently, more than 1.1 million cubic yards of tree debris has been gathered since the storm, which represents more than 21,000 truck loads. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) estimates around 1.5 million cubic yards of debris will be gathered by the end of the cleanup operation in Fredericksburg District, which is expected to continue into July.
Around a dozen crews are gathering debris within the state right-of-way across the four affected counties.
Debris has been identified along more than 840 secondary roads in Caroline, King George, Stafford and Spotsylvania counties.
Crews are visiting roads that carry the heaviest traffic first, in most instances. To date, crews have prioritized debris removal along I-95, primary routes, and priority secondary routes.
With the interstate pickup now complete, and 75 percent of primary routes finished, additional crews can shift to secondary roads, which are routes numbered 600 and above. Around 20 percent of secondary roads with roadside debris in Caroline, King George, Stafford and Spotsylvania are currently complete.
Work will continue until debris has been gathered from the state right-of-way along all affected roads.
Motorists should be alert to mobile work zones in the affected counties, with lane closures as needed. Crews are using heavy, slow-moving construction equipment to gather debris along road shoulders and medians.
During and immediately after the Jan. 3 winter storm, crews removed downed trees and debris from travel lanes to reopen roads as quickly as possible. Crews cut large tree limbs into moveable pieces, and pushed them onto shoulders and along the state right-of-way to provide space for snowplows and trucks applying treatment materials.
Report a Road Hazard
Motorists can report a hazard located in a state-maintained road, such as debris blocking a road or a travel lane, by calling VDOT’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623) or online at my.vdot.virginia.gov.
