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VDOT declares interstates, primary roads clear

Posted at 5:08 AM, Jan 18, 2013
and last updated 2013-01-18 05:59:48-05

COLONIAL HEIGHTS, Va. (WTVR) - Interstates and primary roads around Central Virginia are cleared of snow and ice, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).

"We always focus on the most heavily-traveled routes," VDOT spokeswoman Dawn Eischen said. "Secondary roads we get to once we've completed snow removal on the major routes."

VDOT said "slush and icy conditions" exist on smaller routes and neighborhood streets. Drivers should use caution on these roads and on bridges, curves and turn lanes.

VDOT crews will continue to apply sand and salt to roadways throughout the day to provide traction and melt any remaining snow and ice.

The focus on Friday, VDOT said, was to remove slush and ice from the shoulders on interstates and primary routes to allow for proper road drainage.

"The snow and ice has to go somewhere. It needs to go in the drains," Eischen said. "If we can remove the snow and ice from the shoulders, the road can properly drain and then we have less chance of the re-freeze overnight which we are expecting if roads are still wet."

Their goal is to complete that job before sundown to reduce the risk of a dangerous re-freeze.