NORTHERN VIRGINIA ROADS TREACHEROUS

Motorists urged to limit travel

FAIRFAX ? Heavy snow and sleet are making road conditions treacherous throughout northern Virginia, and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) urges motorists to avoid travel tonight while crews work to clear roads.

Motorists should be aware that road conditions across much of Virginia are likely to worsen through the evening as snow continues to fall. Winter storm conditions are expected to continue into Thursday morning.

About 2,000 trucks are treating and plowing major roads and subdivisions in Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties. 

VDOT urges those motorists who must travel to check current weather, road conditions and traffic cameras before traveling at www.511Virginia.org or by calling 511.

Yesterday, crews pre-treated trouble spots on interstates 66, 95, 395, and 495—including bridges and ramps prone to freezing such as the Springfield interchange, I-66 at Route 29 and the Capital Beltway interchange at Route 1—with liquid magnesium chloride. Problem spots on other major roads, such as the Fairfax County Parkway and routes 1, 7, 28, 29, 50 and 123, were pre-treated with salt brine.