Crews Still Working to Clear Side Streets After Winter Storm

Officials urge patience as crews battle ice and low temperatures to restore road access

Jan. 27, 2026 at 5:55pm

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Road crews across central Virginia are working around the clock to clear ice-covered streets nearly 48 hours after a winter storm brought snow, sleet and freezing temperatures to the region. While most main roads are now passable, many neighborhood streets remain covered in a thick layer of ice that's proving difficult to remove due to persistently low temperatures.

Why it matters

The challenging winter weather conditions have forced crews to change their typical snow removal methods, as traditional chemical treatments are not effective in the extreme cold. This has required a more strategic approach to clearing roads and has led to coordination between various local and state agencies to restore access.

The details

VDOT and local public works crews are focusing on primary and secondary roads, with plans to move into subdivisions on Tuesday night. They expect to continue operations through early Thursday, using additional treatment methods like sand and salt to address the ice accumulation. Crews warn drivers to exercise extreme caution due to dangerous black ice conditions on the roadways.

  • The winter storm hit the region nearly 48 hours ago on January 25, 2026.
  • Crews are working around the clock to clear the roads.
  • They expect to continue operations through early Thursday, January 30, 2026.

The players

Dale Totten

Richmond District Engineer at VDOT.

Torrence Robinson

Spokesperson for Richmond Department of Public Works.

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What they’re saying

“We probably had two three inches of snow plus sleet on top of that, which is now essentially become a four or five-inch hard pack.”

— Dale Totten, Richmond District Engineer at VDOT

“With ice accumulation, we've come back with even more treatment with sand and salt creeping on top of the ice that's accumulated.”

— Torrence Robinson, Spokesperson for Richmond Department of Public Works

What’s next

Crews from VDOT, Richmond, Henrico and Petersburg are all coordinating efforts, with overnight maintenance planned followed by more aggressive clearing operations in the morning. VDOT snow plows can be tracked online.

The takeaway

This winter storm has presented unique challenges for road crews, requiring them to adapt their typical snow removal methods to address the extreme cold and ice accumulation. The coordination between various agencies and their commitment to restoring access is crucial for the community, though officials urge patience as the work continues.