Fairfax County Guide To Treating Icy Roads, Traffic

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA—Fairfax County is under a winter weather advisory with freezing rain and sleet in the forecast from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday. Forecasters say the area will get a wintry mix of freezing rain and sleet, causing slippery conditions on roads.

Here's what you need to know about conditions what it could mean for traffic in the area.

Who treats the ice in Fairfax County?

Just like with snow removal, the Virginia Department of Transportation treats roads in Fairfax County, except for a few private roads that are the responsibility of the homeowner or a homeowner association. Fairfax County does clear a few roads, mostly around police and fire stations, for example.. Expect VDOT trucks patrolling and treating roads where they're needed.

How can I check when my street will be treated?

VDOT has a web tool at vdotplows.org that shows the status of road treatment in NoVa neighborhoods. Green means the neighborhood has been treated, yellow means that treating is in progress, blue indicates treating hasn't started working, and gray means VDOT doesn't maintain the area.

Generally speaking, what is VDOT's priority when it snows?

Treatment priorities are on major highways and primary roadways, then snow emergency routes and heavily traveled roads, and remaining roads handled by VDOT.

Who is responsible for treating walkways and sidewalks?

Fairfax County asks all residents to help out with clearing sidewalks in front of residences and businesses to keep them safe for pedestrians and particularly children and those with disabilities or the elderly. If you're part of a homeowner association, you may be required to do so, so contact your association if you're not sure.

Fairfax County recommends that you consider removing ice in the following seven places:

• The sidewalk in front of your home
• The sidewalk in front of vacant homes or homes where residents are unable to shovel
• Fire hydrants
• Bus stops (there are more than 4,000 in the county!)
• Sidewalks/paths that lead to schools or community buildings where snow has been removed
• Bike trails
• Storm drains

How will this affect traffic?

The freezing rain and sleet will likely impact commuters heading home. The ice will result in very slippery conditions on roads, bridges and sidewalks. Drivers are urged to slow down as conditions worsen and VDOT trucks are out treating roads.

Here are some tips for driving on icy roads, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic:

• Do not pour hot water on the windshield, windows or frozen locks: This can cause the glass to break. Use vehicle defrosters to melt ice for easier removal. Don’t use windshield wipers to remove ice – this will damage the blades.
• Do not push power window buttons on frozen windows: This can damage the mechanics inside the door and can also cause the window to break.
• Do not turn on frozen windshield wipers: Defrost the windshield beforehand. Drivers can also pull the wipers away from the windshield to avoid freezing.
• Slow down when driving: Accelerate, turn and brake gradually. Adjust your speed to the road conditions and give yourself more time to stop.
• Do not tailgate: Allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you. The extra time will provide additional braking room should a sudden stop be necessary.
• Watch the traffic ahead: Slow down immediately at the sight of brake lights, fishtailing cars, sideways skids or emergency flashers ahead.
• Never use cruise control on slippery roads: Using cruise control can reduce the driver response.
• Avoid unnecessarily changing lanes: Hitting a patch of ice between lanes could cause loss of vehicle control.
• Use extreme caution on bridges and overpasses: black ice typically forms first in shaded areas of the roadway and on bridges and overpasses that freeze first and melt last.
• Move over for emergency vehicles: It's the law to move over one lane for law enforcement and emergency roadside personnel assisting motorists.

“Roads that are slick or ice covered can create a worst case scenario for drivers. The timing of the storm, during rush hour, is cause for concern," said Tom Calcagni, regional director of AAA Mid-Atlantic, in a statement.

In addition, Interstate 66 tolls will happen as scheduled from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. VDOT says toll prices could be impacted by the trucks out treating the highway. Monitor the VDOT Northern Virginia and National Weather Service's social media feeds for updates.

Image via VDOT