VDOT urges drivers to avoid travel across Fredericksburg District as clear ice creates dangerous road conditions

Fredericksburg, Virginia – Drivers across the Fredericksburg District are being urged to stay off the roads this morning if possible as icy conditions continue to create dangerous travel across much of the region. Transportation officials say a thin, nearly invisible layer of ice has formed on many roadways overnight, making even treated roads slick and unpredictable.

According to the Virginia Department of Transportation, wet pavement left behind by melting snow and slush refroze as temperatures dropped, creating a clear glaze on the roadway that can be difficult for drivers to see. While VDOT crews applied a mix of sand and salt to Interstate 95, primary roads, and high-volume secondary roads, officials warned that slick spots remain possible, even where treatment has already taken place. Conditions are especially risky on bridges, overpasses, and entrance and exit ramps, where ice forms faster and lingers longer.

VDOT is advising motorists to avoid travel this morning if possible. For those who must be on the road, officials stress the need for extreme caution, including slowing speeds well below normal and increasing the distance between vehicles. Drivers are also reminded not to pass snowplows and to give crews plenty of space as they continue spreading treatment materials and clearing snow.

Overnight snow removal continues as crews focus on neighborhood roads

VDOT crews worked through the night using heavy equipment to clear snow from primary road intersections. Officials said heavy equipment allows crews to apply more pressure and force, which helps break through packed layers of snow and ice that standard plows cannot easily remove.

Crews also continued working on low-volume secondary roads, expanding into residential neighborhoods after focusing first on main routes. These early passes are meant to create one drivable travel lane, usually about 8 to 10 feet wide, that emergency vehicles and other essential traffic can use with extreme caution.

Even after an initial pass, VDOT cautioned that many low-volume secondary roads remain snow-packed and do not have bare pavement from curb to curb. Roads that have only received one pass can still be hazardous, especially during the morning refreeze.

Today, as conditions improve slightly on primary and high-volume secondary roads, VDOT said more crews and equipment are being shifted to continue making initial passes on neighborhood routes that have not yet been reached. Officials emphasized that this emergency response is ongoing 24 hours a day.

Road conditions vary across the Fredericksburg District

In the Fredericksburg area, which includes Stafford, Spotsylvania, and Caroline counties, Interstate 95 is reported to be in minor condition, with visible pavement and open travel lanes. However, isolated icy patches remain possible. Primary roads and high-volume secondary roads, which typically carry about 3,500 vehicles per day or more, are also in minor condition.

Low-volume secondary roads in these counties show a wider range of conditions. Routes that have received an initial pass are considered moderate, meaning snow or ice still covers large portions of the roadway. Roads that have not yet received a pass are in severe condition, with complete snow coverage.

Conditions differ slightly across the Middle Peninsula, which includes Essex, Gloucester, King and Queen, King William, Mathews, and Middlesex counties. Primary roads are clear in Gloucester, Mathews, and Middlesex counties, though isolated icy patches are still possible. In Essex, King and Queen, and King William counties, primary roads are in minor condition with visible pavement, but patches of ice and snow remain.

Most secondary roads in Gloucester, Mathews, and Middlesex counties are in minor condition, while some remain moderate with partial snow coverage. In Essex, King and Queen, and King William counties, secondary roads are generally in moderate condition, meaning snow still covers portions of the roadway despite having received treatment passes.

In the Northern Neck, covering King George, Westmoreland, Northumberland, Richmond, and Lancaster counties, conditions remain mixed. Primary roads are clear in Lancaster County, though drivers are warned about possible icy patches. In the remaining counties, primary roads are in minor condition with visible pavement but lingering snow and ice.

Secondary roads across the Northern Neck are mostly in moderate condition, with snow still covering portions of the road even after plowing.

VDOT continues to urge patience and caution as crews work around the clock to improve conditions. Officials stress that staying off the roads whenever possible helps crews do their jobs faster and allows emergency vehicles to respond safely during this ongoing winter weather response.