FREDERICKSBURG – Light snow is falling across the Fredericksburg area, Northern Neck, and Middle Peninsula, and Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews have begun treating roads for slick spots as needed, such as secondary roads carrying light traffic, and bridges, ramps and overpasses.

Roads are expected to quickly become snow-covered and treacherous this morning when pavement temperatures fall below freezing. Adjust travel around winter weather and use extreme caution. The safest choice is to avoid travel when snow and ice are present on the road. Travelers should check road conditions on 511Virginia for their entire planned route before starting a trip. Road conditions may be more severe in other regions of Virginia.

Elevated surfaces may become slippery first. Additional caution should be used when crossing bridges and overpasses and traveling along ramps. Lower surface temperatures may cause ice to form on bridges, ramps, and overpasses before connecting roads.

VDOT crews are mobilized in 24-hour emergency operations and are circulating across more than 12,000 lane miles of state-maintained road in the Fredericksburg District to spread treatment materials or plow snow as required. Before the storm’s arrival, VDOT crews pretreated Interstate 95 in the Fredericksburg area, and primary roads and key high-volume secondary roads across the district.

On 511Virginia, road conditions are reported as clear to minor, moderate, and severe. Definitions for each of these road conditions:

  • Minor – bare pavement except for isolated spots of snow, ice or slush.
  • Moderate – snow or ice on major portions of the road.
  • Severe – drifting or partially blocked road.

Light snow is forecast to continue falling throughout the day, into the evening commute. A wintry mix of precipitation is forecast for the early evening, which could create isolated icy patches on the road. Then, any wet pavement remaining on roads is expected to refreeze overnight Friday into Saturday morning, as pavement temperatures drop below freezing.

Limited Parking Friday at Several Park and Ride Commuter Lots

Limited parking spaces are available for ridesharing on Friday, Dec. 5, in two VDOT Park and Ride commuter lots in the Fredericksburg area due to winter weather operations:

  • Route 17, Stafford County
  • Route 1 and Commonwealth Drive, Spotsylvania County

VDOT crews plowing I-95 use these Park and Ride lots for staging. The lots will remain open for public use, but the number of available parking spaces will be significantly reduced.

Message boards are posted to alert users to limited parking availability in these lots.

Winter Weather Resources