Lessons Learned: Road Crews Prepped and Ready?
On my drive around the area this morning, including the Beltway and I-66, I saw numerous sand and salt trucks prepped and ready to go -- around overpasses, on ramps, and other road surfaces in Northern Virginia. Heck, the Virginia Department of Transportation center on I-495 near Springfield practically had a convoy waiting outside.
Anyone else notice this increased presence this morning? Maybe area jurisdictions are feeling the heat for the debacle that was last week's ice storm. What did you see this morning? Who (in your opinion) does a better job of keeping the streets cleared and safe? Virginia? Maryland? The District? Who has made the biggest blunders?
Also, as the day progresses, check out washingtonpost.com's Get There blog, as well as traffic updates and cameras. And don't forget to report road conditions using the comments link below or in today's CommuteCast post.
Update: The Get There blog has provided more information on VDOT's ramp up for whatever weather might come our way.
By Jamie Jones |
February 20, 2008; 3:00 PM ET
Government
,
Winter Storms
Previous: Update: Light Snowfall Still On Track |
Next: CommuteCast: Slow and Snowy in Some Places
Posted by: Steve, Capital Weather Gang | February 20, 2008 4:07 PM
That's how the cycle goes -- underreact to one storm, overreact to the next.
Posted by: TheGreenMiles | February 20, 2008 5:58 PM
Area jurisdictions shouldn't HAVE to go out and dump all that sand and salt on the roads..it causes major damage to both road pavement and automobiles. People who need to drive when it gets slick should simply buy Subarus or other 4WD/AWD vehicles. Most new cars come with anti-lock brakes, and many have traction control as well. It is not as necessary to clear snow and ice off roads as it once was.....before the proliferation of all-wheel-drive vehicles.
Posted by: Mike | February 20, 2008 6:48 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
On the noon-time report, amid the breathless reports of "We're ready this time, we really mean it!", Chopper 4 was providing aerial views of sand trucks in position along the roads. Talk about locking the barn door after the horse is stolen . . .