Before the first snowflake falls, Virginia Department of Transportation crews in Rockbridge County are already hours, and often days, into preparation mode.
“We live and die by the weather,” said Susan Hammond, residency administrator for the area, in an interview at the Fairfield area headquarters Friday. “We’re watching it 24/7.”
If frozen precipitation is expected, crews begin by pre-treating interstates and primary roads with a liquid brine solution, which helps prevent snow and ice from bonding to the pavement. Unlike dry salt, which can bounce off the roadway, the brine sticks and can be applied 40 to 48 hours in advance.
Once the storm begins, trucks switch to spreading rock salt and abrasives for traction. When temperatures drop near or below 20 degrees, where salt alone becomes less effective, crews may add calcium chloride to extend melting power.
The Rockbridge area fields about 146 pieces of equipment, including VDOT trucks and contractor vehicles. Drivers are assigned specific routes, often loops of just 5 to 7 miles, so roads can be treated repeatedly during heavy snowfall.
During storms, crews work 12-hour shifts around the clock, staging trucks roughly four hours before precipitation starts. Operators cycle through their routes, returning periodically to reload materials at salt barns or staging areas.
Equipment ranges from single- and tandemaxle plow trucks to tractors, graders and loaders. Each has a role depending on road size and conditions.
