VDOT says it’s ready for winter in Augusta
STAUNTON — The Virginia Department of Transportation is getting the jump on winter weather in Augusta County with a strategy already in place.
Dean Gustafson, Northwestern Regional operations director for VDOT, said Monday that the goal is to make sure all state roads in Augusta County are passable within 48 hours after a storm ends.
Gustafson said the focus in Augusta County will be on interstates, primary roads and major secondary roads that connect to vital areas such as hospitals, fire stations, schools and other facilities.
The transportation operations center at the Staunton District Office will be used to monitor conditions in the county.
Changeable signs on the highways will alert motorists to hazardous conditions as will VDOT’s 511 Web site.
And to get a jump on storm conditions, VDOT will use a new salt-crystal and water solution mixed into a brine on several county roads this year.
The solution helps prevent icing of roads and is put on the highway several hours before a storm hits.
Timothy Fitzgerald, acting residency administrator of VDOT’s Verona Residency Office, said the anti-icing solution will be used on U.S. 11 between Rockbridge and Rockingham counties, on the 262 Staunton bypass between Interstate 81 and U.S. 11, and on U.S. 250 on Afton Mountain.
Gustafson said the goal of the anti-icing solution “is to prevent the bonding between the pavement and ice.”
Fitzgerald said he and other VDOT officials “are excited about the anti-icing. We hope it will help us in the long run.”
Gustafson said VDOT’s renewed statewide emphasis on winter storm preparation comes after a Northern Virginia storm last February in Springfield.
He said the busy Springfield interchange was closed for 12 hours.
VDOT Commissioner David Ekern said in a statement that the agency has been preparing since summer for bad weather across the commonwealth.
VDOT snow facts
* VDOT uses 115 employees in snow removal in Augusta and Highland counties.
* Last year, the Verona residency office of VDOT spent nearly $2.6 million for snow removal in Augusta and Highland counties. Costs will differ this year because interstates are now under turnkey asset management contracts that include maintenance and snow removal.
* VDOT is responsible for 2,632 lane miles in Augusta County.
* To access information online about road conditions, check http://www.511virginia.org.
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