FRANKLIN
The Virginia Department of Transportation urged Hampton Roads residents to stay off roads Thursday morning, as snow and high winds continued to make travel dangerous. VDOT Tiger Teams from across the Commonwealth arrived in Hampton Roads throughout the early morning hours Thursday to bolster the region’s snow-fighting operations.

According to Paula Miller, spokeswoman for VDOT, Tiger Teams are rapid response teams comprised of personnel and equipment from different VDOT residencies across the commonwealth. Bill Collier, VDOT’s district maintenance manager, added that these teams are organized to handle a specific event with equipment and personnel to meet a specific need.

“In this case, we have plows, spreaders, trucks,” he said. “Usually they include a mechanic to take care of the trucks.”

In all, 13 Tiger Teams with 66 trucks and equipment from Staunton, Lynchburg, Salem, Culpeper, and Northern Virginia headed to Hampton Roads to assist with a storm that was predicted to drop as much as 12 inches of snow in areas. A majority of the incoming personnel had arrived by 5 a.m.

VDOT’s Hampton Roads District has 469 pieces of equipment available for snow and ice-control activities, including trucks with plows and salt spreaders, as well as front end loaders and backhoes. VDOT also can bring on more hired equipment if necessary.

If travel is necessary, motorists are urged to drive at a low speed and give extra space to other vehicles, and to slow down and give the right of way to plows and other heavy equipment.

The District began pre-treating interstates and roads throughout Hampton Roads on Tuesday to help prevent ice from bonding to the pavement and to assist with snow and ice removal. VDOT operators will work around the clock until all state-maintained roads are passable.

The District began the winter season with 24,000 tons of salt, 14,000 tons of sand and 168,000 gallons of pre-treating materials, amounts that can be replenished as they are used during weather events.

Motorists are encouraged to visit 511virginia.org or call 511 for up-to-date information on road and traffic conditions. Citizens can also follow VDOT Hampton Roads on Twitter at @VaDOTHR. More information on winter weather travel and snow removal is at: http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/snow.asp.