Ahead of a major winter storm that is expected to bring sleet, snow and frigid temperatures Monday, the Virginia Department of Transportation is warning motorists to stay off area roads.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Northern Virginia from midnight until 6 p.m. Monday.
"By midnight tonight, 4,000 trucks will be staged along interstates, major roads and neighborhood streets in Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William and Arlington counties, " VDOT spokesperson Joan Morris said.
According to VDOT, crews will plow and treat interstates, major roads and neighborhoods concurrently.
"Chemicals are not used in subdivisions, but crews sand hills, curves and intersections to provide traction. For most storms, one snowplow pass, about eight to ten feet wide, is made," Morris said.
The City of Manassas will declare a snow emergency effective 8 p.m. Sunday to activate snow emergency routes. Cars parked along designated snow emergency routes are subject to towing and fines.
These roads include:
To make crews' jobs easier, VDOT asks residents to park in their driveway or on the odd-numbered side of the street to allow plows room to pass.
"When shoveling, leave the last few feet at the curb until the street is plowed, as the truck will push some snow back. Shovel to the right facing the road," she said.
Prince William residents can enter their address at www.vdotplows.org to see the status of plowing in their neighborhood.
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