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Altogether, some 5,000 miles of interstate, arterial and heavily-traveled primary highways are designated as “bare pavement” routes, drawing first attention for snow and ice control.
The rest of the 50,000 miles of State-maintained highways are tackled as quickly as possible afterwards.
Even with the advance preparation, it’s a big job.
Last year, the Department spent $6.9 million for its snow removal and ice control program. This was some $800,000 less than the previous winter, and Wray, the maintenance engineer, attributes it to two factors — a milder winter and savings produced by a continuing emphasis on economy in operations.
“We must stress efficiency in the use of chemicals, because chemical costs amount to one-third of all snow removal expenses," Wray explains. “On the interstate and primary systems, chemicals represent at least 40 per cent of our overall snow costs.”
Another important phase of Virginia’s snow battles provides for a system of reporting road conditions around the State. Hits is achieved in several ways.
During and immediately after a storm, for example, the Department’s eight district offices located in different geographic regions inform Wray’s headquarters in Richmond by telephone of road conditions in their areas.
Using an electric map which measures 6 feet by 12 feet, Wray’s staff plots the condition of Virginia’s major highways section by section. TTien it’s possible to tell at a glance the sections continuing to pose problems and those where motorists need to use chains or snow tires for travel.
This information assists the Department’s maintenance division in coordinating the State-wide snow battle. It also is passed on to the citizens who call inquring about road conditions.
Tlie map, devised by Wray and
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