Published: November 21, 2008 07:19 pm            

Area gets second helping of winter before Thanksgiving

PRINCETON — Motorists across the two Virginias were advised to be cautious today when they get on the road. Friday’s snow and any melting could result in slick spots just in time for Saturday morning; meanwhile, workers upgrading a natural gas pipeline along Bluefield Avenue expected to be finished by Sunday evening.

Most of the region was placed Friday under a Winter Weather Advisory, but forecasters with the National Weather Service in Blacksburg, Va., predicted partly sunny skies today across southern West Virginia and southwest Virginia with temperatures in the mid to upper 30s. The temperature is expected to drop tonight to 16 degrees. On Sunday, sunny skies are expected with highs in the mid 40s.

Area road crews did not report any problems Friday morning as they cleared new snow from the region’s primary highways and secondary roads.

“It was basically business as usual,” said Ryland Musick, district design engineer for District 10 of the West Virginia Department of Highways. “We follow what we call a snow removal, ice control plan.”

Melting snow that froze overnight could have created slick stops that can catch drivers unaware. The icy patches can appear in a variety of places.

‘I would say on the secondary roads, but there may be some isolated places on the secondary roads as well,” Musick said.

Snow removal and road treatments proceeded without any difficulties in Tazewell County as well, but Virginia’s motorists should exercise caution today, too.

“We didn’t have any problems. It kind of caught us by surprise, but we got it clear. All of the primaries are clear, and they’re also working on the secondary roads. They’ll be out tonight working on the secondary roads,” said Harold Sargent, maintenance operations manager for the Virginia Department of Transportation in Tazewell County.

Sargent also warned that when snow melts, run off can get on roads again and freeze overnight. Drivers should be cautious today and give themselves extra time to reach their destinations.

In Bluefield, crews with the Bluefield Gas Company have been working to upgrade a natural gas pipeline along Bluefield Avenue. Jim Hartwell, a supervisor with Bluefield Gas, said he expected to see the work completed by late Sunday evening. Outages during the work impacted commercial customers.

— Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com

        

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