Article Text

Some Northern Virginia neighborhoods could remain only partly cleared as crews continue wrestling with heavy snow and ice left by the weekend storm.

The Virginia Department of Transportation, which plows many neighborhood streets across the region, is focused on opening paths wide enough for emergency vehicles—not necessarily clearing roads from curb to curb.

VDOT spokesman Alex Liggitt said the agency no longer describes roads as “passable” because the term was considered subjective. Instead, crews aim to create an 8- to 10-foot-wide route suitable for ambulances, fire trucks and other emergency vehicles.

Sleet and ice made the accumulated snow unusually heavy, forcing crews to deploy front-end loaders, skid-steers and tractors to push and relocate it.

Conditions vary sharply by neighborhood. Bob Kolasky, who lives on a McLean cul-de-sac, said the roads have allowed residents to handle necessary trips, though he has avoided testing them more than needed.

Alex, a resident near Lake Braddock, said the area in front of his home remained uncleared and his car could not navigate the neighborhood. Although an ambulance might be able to get through, he said he has had to leave his vehicle on the main street.

Alex, who works as a delivery driver, said he had not encountered another neighborhood in similarly poor condition during his rounds.

Carrie Blewitt offered a comparable assessment after leaving a restaurant, saying many main roads were fine while neighborhood streets remained uncertain.

VDOT has not set a firm end date for its storm response. Residents continue submitting digital service tickets and contacting the agency’s Customer Service Center with requests, including calls to widen some turn lanes.

Liggitt said crews will remain active until the continued response is no longer necessary.