ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, January 9, 1996 TAG: 9601090030
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: S.D. HARRINGTON AND BETTY HAYDEN STAFF WRITERS
note: lede
Western Virginians were digging out their driveways Monday and looking forward to leaving their snow-covered homes. But a combination of strong winds, freezing temperatures and lurking winter storms could keep us snowed under for at least the rest of the week.
Gusts of more than 30 mph kept snow flying Monday and created drifts as deep as 10 feet in higher elevations, said Laura Bullock, spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Transportation's Salem office.
VDOT employees worked around the clock Sunday and reported limited success in their battle against the near blizzard.
"We're making progress, and we're pleased with the progress that we've made," Bullock said. "We don't want to fool anyone, though. All of our roads have snow on them."
Bullock had to wade out to the truck that came for her Monday, so she understands the frustration of people living on secondary roads.
Snow plows moved to some secondary county roads Monday afternoon, but Bullock said they would have to be put back on the main roads if winds continued to blow snow back on them. The district has more than 9,200 miles of roads to clear in 12 counties.
"We would ask for patience," she said.
Crews will work through the night again, and Bullock said it might be safe to venture out after noon today, but "you've still got to have a properly equipped vehicle."
She suggested people call the statewide road conditions hot line at (800) 367-ROAD.
In Roanoke, plowing lagged because trucks got stuck in side streets and abandoned cars blocked some roads, Public Works Director Bill Clark said.
"It will be awhile before we get it down to bare pavement," Clark said.
After the snow stopped falling late Sunday, National Weather Service meteorologists added up the total accumulations in Western Virginia. Rockbridge County came out on top with 30 inches, followed by the New River Valley with 27 inches and the Roanoke Valley with 23 inches.
The forecast calls for temperatures to hover in the mid- to upper 30s today and to climb to the mid- to upper 30s through the end of the week.
Road crews battled snowdrifts most of the day Monday.
Virginia 40 between Franklin and Patrick counties was blocked by snow drifts 8 to 10 feet deep, Bullock said.
In Fancy Gap in Carroll County, gusts up to 40 mph caused whiteouts.
While clearing a road in Carroll County, a VDOT truck slipped off a 300-foot embankment. The driver, who was able to keep the truck's tires on the ground, walked away from the accident, Bullock said.
On Virginia 57 west of Bassett in Henry County, VDOT crews were frustrated by 2- to 3-foot drifts on roads they had cleared.
A few signs of normalcy are expected to return today:
nValley Metro will begin operations at 7:15 a.m., but buses will run hourly and only on snow routes.
nRoanoke libraries, which were closed Monday, were to open at 9 this morning. Salem's library was expected to open today, but perhaps a bit later. Roanoke County libraries were expected to open today, but residents should call first.
nRoanoke city trash collection, which has been suspended by the storm, will resume in downtown Roanoke. As of Monday, no decision had been made on when or if residential trash collection will resume this week. A special collection of Christmas trees is on hold until conditions improve.
In Salem, trash collection has been postponed for the week while sanitation workers help clear streets. In Roanoke County, trash collection also has been postponed for the week.
Staff Writer Dan Casey contributed to this story.
LENGTH: Medium: 78 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. DON PETERSEN/Staff Steve Rantz digs out his car onby CNBFloyd Avenue in Southwest Roanoke on Monday morning. It will likely
be days before the city's all dug out. color
2. DON PETERSEN/Staff Pedestrians brave the windblown snow while
carrying home groceries along Plantation Road Northeast in Roanoke.
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