- Phased system keeps residents informed
- Remember to shovel your sidewalks
- Real-time driving conditions info available
Arlington, Va. — Winter is coming and Arlington County is prepared. The County offers a number of tools to keep residents informed when winter weather strikes. Check out our Snow and Ice Central webpage for a wealth of information.
Snow team gearing up
Once the forecast calls for winter weather — snow, ice or freezing rain — Arlington preps its plows and salt trucks and the snow team is ready to go. During a storm, the first priority for Arlington's snow crews is keeping main arteries passable for emergency vehicles and public transportation (red primary routes [pdf]). The team includes 92 drivers and 46 trucks equipped with salt spreaders and plows.
Arlington uses an environmentally-friendly salt brine solution to pre-treat many of our main roadways; eight of the trucks also are equipped with salt brine sprayers. A liquid magnesium chloride and salt mixture is used in lower temperatures when it is most effective. Whenever we use salt or sand, crews adjust equipment to ensure only the minimal proper amount is dispensed.
Residents can track street-clearing progress
This will be the third winter that Arlington will use a phased system to share information about snow operations. The system allows residents to check a storm's progress, track the County's efforts to clear streets, and determine how to best prepare for the winter weather. The current phase will be posted on the County website and social media channels. For snow removal updates, follow the County on Facebook or Twitter.
Traffic cameras to monitor road conditions
The traffic camera webpage offers real-time views of major intersections and other key locations. With access to real-time road conditions, drivers are able to make informed decisions about traveling during and after a winter storm. The Snow and Ice Central page features 83 traffic cameras.
Keep those sidewalks cleared, please
The County's Snow Removal Ordinance requires all Arlington property owners to clear snow and ice from public sidewalks adjacent to their property within a designated time period. To learn more about the ordinance, read the FAQs.
When a snow/ice event is predicted, Arlington County mobilizes crews to ensure entry ways, sidewalks, and parking lots at County-owned facilities are treated and safe.