City updates road treating situation

Published 12:25 pm Thursday, February 26, 2015

4:04 p.m. UPDATE: According to city of Suffolk spokeswoman Diana Klink, 95 percent of primary roads had been treated as of 3 p.m. Crews were addressing issues on median sections and switching to secondary roadways throughout for the rest of the afternoon and overnight.

Crews have spread 726 tons of abrasives, Klink added.

_____

Email newsletter signup

12:53 p.m. UPDATE: An estimated 6 to 8 inches of snow has fallen across Suffolk since Wednesday night, according to city of Suffolk spokeswoman Diana Klink, citing information from the city’s Department of Emergency Management.

“The department … advises that the heaviest of the snow and sleet has moved  out and that the possibility of lingering snow is dwindling,” Klink reported shortly after 12:30 p.m.

Forecast for Thursday night are mostly cloudy skies and a low around 22 . That temperature means roadways will potentially refreeze, especially as winds blow drifting snow across them.

Suffolk Public Works still has all 21 snowplows still in operation, according to Klink, who advised of “steady progress” toward clearing roadways.

“Conditions vary throughout  the city, and crews are reporting that most primary roads have been  treated and crews have begun to address several secondary roadways as well,” Klink stated.

But the crews stress that treated does not mean roads are plowed down to bare pavement, she added. “Citizens are reminded to avoid driving unless  absolutely necessary as crews continue to treat our roadways.”

Drip faucets overnight to avoid potential burst pipes, Klink stated.

_____

12:37 p.m. UPDATE: The Chesapeake division of the Virginia State Police reports the following on calls received between midnight and noon Thursday:

  • Motor vehicle crashes with injuries: six
  • Motor vehicle crashes with property damage: 113
  • Total crashes: 120
  • Disable vehicles: 69
  • Highway hazards: three
  • Total calls for service: 271

____

12:19 p.m. UPDATE: Troopers have cleared the scene of a truck accident on Route 460 – all lanes except one westbound are now open.

According to Virginia State Police spokeswoman Sgt. Michelle Anaya, Junious Jennings III, of Baltimore, Md., has been charged with reckless driving and driving too fast for road conditions, after his 2013 Freightliner lost control on 460 in the 5300 block of Windsor Boulevard in Zuni.

He struck a tree and utility pole guide wires before coming to rest, Anaya stated.

____

11:22 a.m. UPDATE: Isle of Wight County officials are reporting Route 460 is closed in both directions in Zuni near the county line, after a tractor trailer lost control there.

The county Sheriff’s Office and other emergency services responded to the accident at 9:20 a.m. A fuel tank on the rig ruptured, spilling diesel across the roadway.

The road was shut down to allow crews to clean up the spill and remove the truck, according to a news release.

____

10:43 a.m. UPDATE: According to VDOT, snow was ending on the Southside, with “most primary roads moderately passable,” but many secondary roads still in poor condition.

Refreezing remains a “definite possibility tonight across the district,” and crews were planning to continue working through the night to maintain conditions and continue clearing.

____

10:20 a.m. UPDATE: City of Suffolk spokeswoman Diana Klink says “many” citizens heeded warnings to stay off the roads. Traffic was very light into the early morning hours, she reported, with “a handful of minor accidents with no injuries and calls for disabled motorists.”

Average snowfall across Suffolk was more than 5 inches, according to Klink, with some areas reporting higher accumulations.

Before the snow began, public works crews successfully pretreated with brine primary roadways and also “a large number” of secondary roads. “Crews report that our primary roadways are snow covered  but passable, and that they are still several hours from moving on to  our secondary roadways and ask motorists to avoid using these routes  if possible,” Klink added.

Wintry conditions were expected to cause “additional concerns” such as freezing and drifting. Motorists were reminded to use extreme caution around slow-moving trucks treating the roads, leave extra space around other vehicles and, with potentially slick pavements, travel slower than posted limits.

_____

8:35 a.m. UPDATE: The Chesapeake Division of the Virgina State Police has responded to 87 motor vehicle crashes, including 82 with property damage and four with injuries. There have been 92 calls for help with disabled vehicles.

_____

With several inches of heavy, wet snow on the ground throughout Hampton Roads and more expected through the morning, Virginia State Police are urging motorists to delay travel today unless it is absolutely necessary to drive.

Troopers responded to 10 motor vehicle crashes, all with property damage only, from midnight to 3:30 a.m. Thursday, according to Sgt. Michell Anaya. They also assisted with nine disabled vehicles.

“State Police are out on the roadways and have been working continuously throughout the night, assisting motorists during the winter storm,” Anaya stated in an email.

For those who must drive, Anaya offered the following safety tips:

  • Clear all snow from your vehicle — windows, roof, trunk and lights.
  • Add extra time to reach your destination, and be prepared for delays.
  • Slow down.
  • Increase you following distance.
  • Buckle up, and avoid driving distractions like cellphones.
  • Move over for all stopped emergency vehicles, highway department vehicles and tow trucks.

To check road conditions on highways maintained by the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles throughout Virginia, call 511 or visit www.511virginia.org.

Check back at www.suffolknewsherald.com throughout the day for continuing coverage of the snowstorm.