WSET.com - ABC13Snow's Impact On the Roads

Reporter: Sally Delta

Lynchburg, VA - While many spent the day relaxing or playing in the snow, clean up crews have been hard at work spreading salt and monitoring the roadways to keep them as safe and clear as possible.

Lynchburg Public Works planned to get crews out around 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon but had to push that time up to 2 p.m. once the started coming down. Since then, they've had 21 trucks out spreading chemicals.  VDOT has been busy as well and their concern is this type of snow, which can become problematic.

The first snow of the year seemed to come out of nowhere. But once it started it came on strong.

"This is a very heavy, very wet snow so we're not going to be watching the snow accumulation but also any damage that may result in the trees," said Jones.

Paula Jones with VDOT says this type of snow has the potential to do some serious damage.

"The weight on what it can do on the power lines and the tree limbs can bring down a lot of things that create other problems in addition to the snow itself," said Jones.

In the meantime, VDOT trucks have been out in full force all over central Virginia ready to plow and spread abrasives. In Lynchburg, Public Works has been spreading chemicals throughout the city - first on primary roads.

"The heaviest traveled roads like the expressway, Old Forest Road, Timberlake Road, Campbell Avenue," said Owen.

They're following those up with secondary roads like Link Road, Mayflower Drive. And all the while keeping a close eye on bridges and overpasses.

"With weather conditions of this kind, things can change so rapidly so when you come to a bridge and overpass in particular you need to use caution and just assume that there may be ice on them," said Jones.

Jones says the air whips up under bridges, dropping the surface temperature and freezing them fast. So, if you don't have to travel, don't!

"After dark the roads will become much slipprier and possibly icier, so after dark, we probably recommend the residents stay home if possible," said Owen.

If you do decide to travel, VDOT wants to remind everyone to use the 511 service. You can use it online or by phone. It's voice automated so just say the city, county or other roadway to request specific road conditions before heading out.