Suffolk News-Herald

Slick roadways on secondary and side streets continue to cause problems in Suffolk.

As a safety precaution, the city’s public works department canceled trash pickup on Monday and Tuesday, and will resume collections today. The pickup schedule will be back to normal next week.

Households impacted by the lack of service this week will be allowed to put out extra boxes and bags in addition to the regular trash next week, said Dennis Craff, the city’s spokesman.

Making Suffolk’s roadways safe again has been a 24-hour job for the city’s public works department and Virginia Department of Transportation.

Public Works has cleared subdivision entrances and all main streets in the downtown area. Some snow and ice remain on roads under VDOT’s management, and on a few of the secondary and side streets in the downtown area, said Craff.

VDOT’s staff is continuing to work around the clock to clear roads, according to state officials. Interstates and primary roads remain in good condition.

Tightly packed ice and snow are the primary culprits on secondary roads and subdivisions throughout Hampton Roads, VDOT reports. More than 400 crewmembers have been working consistently in 12-hour shifts to clear the roads since late Saturday night.

VDOT crews have been concentrating on areas hit hardest by the storm, including York County, Suffolk, and Franklin. On streets heavily compressed with ice and snow, workers are busy applying salt and abrasives to loosen the ice so that plowing can begin today.

Interstates and primary roads, including ramps, are mostly clear and in good condition throughout the region.

Motorists can get updated road conditions locally by tuning to 610 AM Highway Advisory Radio. Statewide, road conditions are available 24 hours a day by checking the VDOT web site at www.VirginiaDOT.org or by calling the statewide Highway Helpline at 800-367-ROAD.