Cities and towns clear their own streets. Here are the answers to the questions most often asked about how VDOT handles the white stuff.
Roads carrying the most traffic get top priority.
Interstate highways and high volume roads are cleared first. Once the most heavily traveled roads and emergency routes are in good shape, snow crews move to less-traveled roads and subdivisions. Putting salt on roads prior to a snowfall only wastes time and money since the salt blows right off the highway. Salt is most effective after the snow has accumulated about an inch and the temperature is 20 degrees or higher. Under these conditions, the salt and snow will mix, melting the snow into a slush that can be plowed off the pavement.