Safety Is Top Priority for VDOT Snow Removal Crews
Agency Armed with $80.6 Million for Winter
RICHMOND — Safety is always a top priority for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) even during the worst of winter weather.
Winter Weather Preparedness Week is Dec. 3 through 9, and VDOT is reassuring state residents that the agency is ready to tackle whatever Mother Nature decides to send us for the 2007-2008 winter season.
This year VDOT is armed with an $80.6 million budget and more than 3,200 crewmembers and 3,680 pieces of snow-removal equipment – ready to go on a moment’s notice.
- Details >
- Virginia Department of Emergency Management's snow information page >
- VDOT crews train for snow season (WMV, 4.5 MB, 1:22) , transcript (PDF, 96 KB)
- How VDOT clears snow (WMV, 3 MB, 1:41), transcript (PDF, 96 KB)
- Safe winter driving (WMV, 2.5 MB, :55), transcript (PDF, 88 KB)
(Download the free video player here.)
PDFs 
- Fact sheet > (30 KB)
- Snow removal in Northern Virginia > (119 KB)
For information about how to prepare for all types of emergencies, visit ReadyVirginia.gov.
Links:
- VDOT Travel Center
- Road conditions
- 511 Virginia
- Winter driving information
- Virginia Department of Emergency Management's winter weather page
- VDOT researchers study unique aggregate-chemical mix for improved bridge safety during storms
Other Video
- Parking in snow (:30)
- Clearing roads in 48 hours (:30)
- Interstates and primary roads first (:30)
- Keeping Virginia moving (1:00)
(WMVs. Download the free player here.)
Video transcripts (PDF, 10 KB)
Audio
VDOT's Jeffrey Caldwell explains:
- How the agency decides which
roads to open first (:13) - Preparation (:20)
- Safety (:16)
(MP3s)
Photos:
Click the image for a larger version:
VDOT workers prepare snow plow.
Interstate and major primary
routes are the first ones cleared.
Roy Richards operates a plow. The agency uses both employees and contract workers to clear roads
as soon as possible after a storm.
The goal is to to make all roads
passable within 48 hours.
In additon to plows, the agency has
snowblowers to move large drifts.
Crews work around the clock
to clear snowcovered roads.
Safety is our top concern. Please
be careful when driving in the snow.
