CULPEPER – Heavy rains across much of the Culpeper District on Friday have caused some flooding of low-lying roads and the Virginia Department of Transportation is warning motorists to use caution while traveling overnight, particularly on secondary roads and in flood-prone areas.

Roads are reported closed in Albemarle, Culpeper, Fluvanna, Louisa, Madison and Orange counties due to high water from small streams that have overflowed their banks. VDOT crews will work through the night to set up barricades and signs on flooded roads as well as respond to any other reported problems.

VDOT crews in Albemarle County have reported icing conditions on Interstate 64 and Route 250 on Afton Mountain and similar conditions on Route 33 in Greene County as it crosses the Blue Ridge Mountains. VDOT will have crews out all night to monitor conditions in those areas. In addition to the danger of flooded roads, motorists who must travel overnight should also be alert for freezing conditions on bridges, overpasses, ramps and intersections as well as on roads at higher elevations. Dense fog is also reported on the mountain passes; that fog will likely persist overnight as well.

At 4 p.m., the following roads are closed due to high water:



Albemarle County
Route 712
Route 713

Culpeper County
Route 657 from Route 645 to the Madison County line at Wayland Mills

Fluvanna County
Route 603 from Route 601 to the Goochland County line
Route 630 from Route 659 to Route 601
Route 659
Middle Fork Road

Louisa County
Route 613 from Route 628 to Route 625
Route 636 from Route 695 to Route 22
Routes 640 at Purcell Lumber outside the Town of Louisa
Route 645
Route 651

Madison County
Route 603 from Route 602 to Route 643
Route 618 from Route 631 to the Culpeper County line
Route 642 from Route 670 to Route 650
Route 644 from Route 643 to Route 646

Orange County
Route 602 from Route 692 to Route 611
Route 603 from Route 614 to Route 611
Route 619 from Route 624 to Route 692
Route 637 from Route 612 to Route 688
Route 651 from Route 612 to Route 669 at the Louisa County line
Route 666 from Route 627 to Route 617

Motorists are urged to avoid travel overnight, and if you must drive, to observe the following precautions:

• Never drive through water flowing across a road. It takes only six inches of water to float a small vehicle. There may also be damage to the road surface below the water’s surface.
• Never drive around barricades. Remember, the road has been closed for your safety.
• Slow down when driving through standing water. Driving too fast through water could cause loss of control due to hydroplaning.
• Avoid flood-prone areas, especially along creeks and other low-lying areas.
• If a flash flood warning is broadcast, seek high ground immediately.
• Watch for debris on the roadway. If you encounter a downed power line, do not try to move the line.

Motorists can receive real-time information about road closings and weather conditions by dialing 511 on any telephone within Virginia, or on the Web at www.511Virginia.org.

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Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.

Page last modified: Jan. 17, 2008