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VDOT Uses Heavy Equipment to Open Emergency Access on Iced Virginia Neighborhood Streets

Subfreezing temperatures left multi-inch ice that salt could not melt, requiring loaders and graders.

Overview

  • VDOT redefined its neighborhood objective to an 8–10-foot path suitable for emergency vehicles rather than fully clearing every street.
  • Crews are deploying front-end loaders, skid-steers, tractors and heavy-duty road graders to break up thick ice before plows can push it.
  • Abrasive sand or sand–salt mixtures are being placed to improve traction so drivers can reach mostly cleared primary roads.
  • Residents in parts of Central Virginia report being stuck at home with work, deliveries and trash pickup disrupted, though main roads are largely passable.
  • With another storm expected, VDOT will refocus on interstates and primary routes and will not pretreat roads, even as neighborhood cleanup continues.