WVDOH Deploys Graders, Plows to Restore Road Access After Major Snowstorm
Key Highlights
- WVDOH prioritized interstates and major highways before shifting resources to secondary and local roads.
- Pretreatment with brine and beet juice helped crews accelerate post-storm cleanup efforts.
- Freezing temperatures required the use of road graders to address ice buildup beyond standard plowing and salting.
The West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) deployed heavy equipment to restore roads access across the state following a weekend storm that blanketed much of the Northeast with heavy snow.
WVDOH crews worked around the clock to plow and salt interstates and other first-priority corridors, allowing the agency to begin shifting operations to lower-priority routes, according to WOAY-TV.
The department follows a tiered snow removal system that prioritizes roadway access and safety, according to a WVDOH news release. Priority 1 routes include interstates, expressways, National Highway System routes, and all U.S. and West Virginia highways, as well as select high-traffic county roads. Priority 2 roadways consist of school bus routes not already designated as Priority 1, while Priority 3 routes includes all remaining roadways excluding park and forest roads. Priority 4 routes include all park and forest roads.
By Sunday, most Priority 1 routes were passable, WOAY-TV reported. Once those roadways are deemed safe for cautious travel, crews shift focus to Priority 2 and 3 routes. However, additional snowfall can require crews to return to Priority 1 corridors, according to the release.
WVDOH began preparing for the storm several days in advance, pretreating roadways with brine and beet juice starting the Thursday before the storm. Pretreatment helps prevent snow and ice from bonding to pavement, improving the effectiveness of salt and plowing operations, the agency said.
Freezing temperatures following the storm introduced additional challenges, particularly ice accumulation. Because ice is more difficult to remove and melt, WVDOH deployed road graders to assist in clearing hazardous conditions, according to the release.
As of Monday, crews had begun clearing Priority 2 and 3 routes using a combination of plows and graders, WVDOH reported.