Shenandoah Valley: VDOT prepares for wintry weather

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8MlBeOvgWvp9sUbX7AcI1f9TbyrgboD4asZFw8ryYwaLHwYvVA2BzE9Q5qaY4fM5xXiiZ7CzsKQ-g9P31sMvGy4jUaZ7eYfbhbkU7wFXwkDHCa8Z2HvIWHmVsY6L2ibwcXwled-Uby8/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8MlBeOvgWvp9sUbX7AcI1f9TbyrgboD4asZFw8ryYwaLHwYvVA2BzE9Q5qaY4fM5xXiiZ7CzsKQ-g9P31sMvGy4jUaZ7eYfbhbkU7wFXwkDHCa8Z2HvIWHmVsY6L2ibwcXwled-Uby8/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> The Rt. 262 bypass around Staunton was being treated this morning as VDOT put down anti-freezing fluids on the roadways preparing for incoming wintry weather that could include snow, ice, and freezing rain. By this afternoon, both sides of the road had been done as well as many other main thoroughfares around Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IjOQhvU8vfTi3VBL8J__X2y_kSkNu-7HAamp_K0HSb-ag6XGAookafbOeFP7B54fw9aHykFNoTx1m_ehPjOb2p4Jh1YsGratGpWjFZUcuBhWwcMS0S_5o2nmyeSPw7zyx4wrEgzwUxs/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IjOQhvU8vfTi3VBL8J__X2y_kSkNu-7HAamp_K0HSb-ag6XGAookafbOeFP7B54fw9aHykFNoTx1m_ehPjOb2p4Jh1YsGratGpWjFZUcuBhWwcMS0S_5o2nmyeSPw7zyx4wrEgzwUxs/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This VDOT worker was retrieving trash from the middle of the road. Keeping us safe ... many thanks for VDOT and the men and women who make our highways and byways safe all year round but especially during winter. It looks like they will have their hands full the next 24 hours.</div><br />Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />November 25, 2013

Augusta County highway safety Shenandoah Valley Staunton VDOT Virginia Department of Transportation Waynesboro western Virginia Shenandoah Valley: VDOT prepares for wintry weather

 The Rt. 262 bypass around Staunton was being treated this morning as VDOT put down anti-freezing fluids on the roadways preparing for incom...

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Ken Slack as VDOT spokesman

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-RXvIg5ZyraKR_FmTA3tmw_CBQfNhNS4d0qr5qSABegIfk55_YHUoeyeIKNYmpjSah3rdF3faTXlr2pByR9ud0kvWGxIi1HuBLSVhb_XeN0zY8LNaa9ky0cNVn-igxiM3B2RcNVADoCf/s1600/Ken+Slack+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-RXvIg5ZyraKR_FmTA3tmw_CBQfNhNS4d0qr5qSABegIfk55_YHUoeyeIKNYmpjSah3rdF3faTXlr2pByR9ud0kvWGxIi1HuBLSVhb_XeN0zY8LNaa9ky0cNVn-igxiM3B2RcNVADoCf/s1600/Ken+Slack+2.jpg" /></a></div><br />It was good to see a report from former longtime <a href="http://www.nbc29.com/">NBC-29</a> reporter Ken Slack last night while watching the 11:00 news in his role as spokesman for Virginia's Department of Transportation. In a news story about repairs on the I-81 sinkhole in southern Augusta County, <a href="http://www.whsv.com/">WHSV TV-3</a> had reached out to VDOT for a comment. It was a reminder that Ken has been missed in the evening news and at events around the SWAC area in his role as reporter.<br /><br />Back story: <a href="http://swacgirl.blogspot.com/2013/04/nbc-29s-ken-slack-to-join-vdot-other.html">NBC-29's Ken Slack to join VDOT</a>

Ken Slack NBC-29 VDOT Virginia Department of Transportation WHSV TV-3 Ken Slack as VDOT spokesman

It was good to see a report from former longtime NBC-29 reporter Ken Slack last night while watching the 11:00 news in his role as spokesma...

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I-64 over Afton Mountain to receive improvements

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYV2puNRVb06I1LnDdTJRuCSW_2uW8kv3hp_EONaV6vy9tqyUptQefpZEbICeAKn5Jh4ZQ21eVfEVXp_LCRr0Q3lq8DzkE71L5pYPLgi6-rqpm8mTrOf7a4UtHVcEuOjrHhnuAiBrN5YM/s1600/Afton+Mtn+pileup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYV2puNRVb06I1LnDdTJRuCSW_2uW8kv3hp_EONaV6vy9tqyUptQefpZEbICeAKn5Jh4ZQ21eVfEVXp_LCRr0Q3lq8DzkE71L5pYPLgi6-rqpm8mTrOf7a4UtHVcEuOjrHhnuAiBrN5YM/s640/Afton+Mtn+pileup.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>For years I-64 over Afton Mountain has been a foggy gap through the mountains in bad weather as well as icy, snowy, windy, and every other weather condition possible. Since it was completed in 1972, this interstate that connects the coast of Virginia westward to the mountains has been used by millions of travelers. It's gentle grade and curves made crossing the Blue Ridge Mountains far easier and safer than in the past, and in good conditions it's a breeze to drive.<br /><br />That is, until bad weather hits, and one particularly nasty deterrent over the years has been fog that can be as thick as pea soup, literally limiting visibility to about as far as the front of your vehicle. With eyes squinting to see through the thick, opaque haze, it can make for a white-knuckle, heart-stopping drive as you go up against Mother Nature.<br /><br />And then there's the other drivers. That's where Russian roulette comes into play because some drivers feel completely safe continuing at the 65 mph posted speed limit even though they can't see beyond their noses. Others slow down ... but how much? Some almost stop while others feel safe at 55 or 45 or 35. That's a dangerous mix on foggy or wintry Afton.<br /><br />For years those living in the area have suggested that a variable speed limit would be helpful under such conditions. Improvements have been made as far as automatic fog lights that outline lanes making it easier not to drive over the side of the mountain, and electronic signs with messages warning of inclement conditions. But the speed limit issue was still there. And pileups still happened even with the improvements.<br /><br />Thankfully, according to the <a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/state-regional/improvements-planned-for-i--over-afton-mountain/article_0e894fc3-9f94-5394-97bf-9b31ac75f5c4.html"><i>Richmond Times-Dispatch</i></a>, a new phase of improvements is going to be put in place and, included in Phase 2, will be the variable speed signs:<br /><blockquote>The variable speed limit would allow VDOT to not only detect inclement weather or changing traffic patterns but automatically alter the road’s legal speed limit to prepare drivers for the conditions.<br /><br />In Afton, Shiley said, “we looked at crash types, not just number of crashes, and it led us to this solution: We really need to have something to get motorists to slow down when we have fog conditions or winter weather conditions.”</blockquote>Afton is legendary for the pileups that have occurred over the years:<br /><blockquote>In April 1992, state police responded to a 60-car pileup that resulted in two fatalities. In April 1998, a 65-car pileup sent 40 people to area hospitals. Then, less than three weeks later, the road was the site of an 18-car collision. In all three incidents, police reported that fog was a major factor.</blockquote>The new improvements will be welcomed. Now if we could just get climbing lanes....

Afton Mountain I-64 VDOT Virginia I-64 over Afton Mountain to receive improvements

For years I-64 over Afton Mountain has been a foggy gap through the mountains in bad weather as well as icy, snowy, windy, and every other w...

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Virginia's mowing blitz to spiff up for Independence Day

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7tjQQbXp8foNF5rJDQ4bSZx82BWDxapVotolwRF514bWqFBwvAdZfwY697DFxLHzHbFjtAc8yrGDE_uTU9hDAaGQBezK_4g1nD6VO7A5vNjV_lu1CL7Sa2EoF1bPS_x126b4upUJ1Sqb/s1600/VDOT+truck+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7tjQQbXp8foNF5rJDQ4bSZx82BWDxapVotolwRF514bWqFBwvAdZfwY697DFxLHzHbFjtAc8yrGDE_uTU9hDAaGQBezK_4g1nD6VO7A5vNjV_lu1CL7Sa2EoF1bPS_x126b4upUJ1Sqb/s1600/VDOT+truck+2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo from NBC-29.</i></div><br />Virginia is spiffing up the roadways for the upcoming 4th of July holiday as the Virginia Department of Transportation goes on a mowing blitz during the next week. Shoulders and medians will be mowed and trash picked up as the Commonwealth readies for America's birthday.<br /><br />Governor Bob McDonnell announced the cleanup on Tuesday, noting:<br /><blockquote><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> “A clean, well-cut roadway enhances the state’s appearance for residents and visitors, but of greater importance is the effort to improve a motorist’s ability to see signs, guardrail and oncoming traffic, and to pull over during an emergency. Additional mowing will be ongoing throughout the year, but we wanted to make sure that our roads and highways are ready to welcome the public to the Commonwealth ahead of the holiday weekend.”</span></blockquote>As always, be mindful of VDOT workers who are out there beautifying the Old Dominion. They want to spend a safe Independence Day with their families, too.

Bob McDonnell Commonwealth Fourth of July Independence Day NBC-29 Old Dominion VDOT Virginia Virginia Department of Transportation Virginia's mowing blitz to spiff up for Independence Day

Photo from NBC-29. Virginia is spiffing up the roadways for the upcoming 4th of July holiday as the Virginia Department of Transportation go...

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