Road conditions improve across HR

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - The slushy roads could still be a problem for travelers Saturday night because temperatures are expected to drop.

Virginia Department of Transportation and local Public Works crews will be keeping a close eye on the roads.
The big focus right now is places that typically freeze over night like bridges, overpasses and ramps.

VDOT  spokesman Kris Purzycki said most primary and secondary roads in the Hampton Roads area are passable. Crews continue to treat some secondary roads in Williamsburg and Suffolk.

Just 24 hours ago, Hampton Roads was blanketed by snow. Roads were covered with slush and ice making driving treacherous.

"It was kind of dangerous if you didn't know how to drive," Darfeis Williams said. "You definitely had to be aware of braking as well as your speed limit."

The roads froze overnight and made travel difficult during the morning hours Saturday.

"This morning it was like a solid sheet of ice," said Philip Dennis, who drove from Danville to Norfolk Friday night. "We barely made it two blocks to the gun show from our hotel in Norfolk."

VDOT officials said crews pre-treated the roads with salt and sand two days before the snowfall. Pre-treating the roads early helped speed up the melting process on the roads.

"In the wee hours of the morning, and looking at it now, the salt or whatever they put down on the roads played a tremendous part on the cleanup," Williams said.

Several drivers told WAVY.com they were grateful to the public works and VDOT crews who worked through the night so they could travel safely.

"They did a good job," Norfolk driver Jennay Wright said. "I've experienced snow in the past - like two years ago - and the roads were really bad for a long time. This time they seemed to get them cleared fast."