December 19, 2009

Nearly all roads are listed as "severe" in terms of the amount of snow on the roads.

According to the Virginia Department of Transportation, Interstate 64 is covered in deep snow and ice, and is down to single-lane traffic. I-64 is especially difficult to travel near the Afton Mountain and Crozet area.

Primary roads like Route 29 and Route 250 been plowed, but it is slow going. Route 29 near Lovingston was closed late Friday night due to several cars blocking the road, and the road is still in poor condition Saturday morning.

Several cars have been abandoned in ditches and on the side of the road due to drivers unable to gain traction on the roads. Some people are still in their cars, awaiting transfer to a shelter at the Aquatics and Fitness Center at UVa in Charlottesville.

Secondary roads haven't been plowed yet, and are covered in deep snow. Garth Road in Albemarle County was stop and go traffic late Friday night, and with no plows or rescue workers in sight, drivers took it upon themselves to direct traffic up the steep hills by restricting travel up the hill to one car at a time.

Our traffic cameras show that many Charlottesville roads are also in poor condition. Heavily traveled intersections like the Emmett Street and University Avenue intersection haven't been plowed yet Saturday morning, and there are only a few cars driving there. The same can be said for the Emmett Street and Angus Road intersection near Best Buy. We saw just one car on Emmett Street in that area at 7:00 am.

Albemarle County spokeswoman Lee Catlin tells CBS19 that no one has been sent to the hospital with serious injuries. Catlin is asking drivers who have four-wheel drive vehicles to volunteer the use of their trucks and SUVs for emergency workers so that people can be transported to shelters.

A VDOT spokesperson tells CBS19 that secondary roads likely won't be plowed Saturday. VDOT is focused on the interstates and primary roads, and won't start plowing smaller roads until the snow has stopped.