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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 19, 1993                   TAG: 9303190285
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV2   EDITION: NRV
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SALEM                                LENGTH: Short

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ROAD CLEARING CONTINUES

Snow-removal continues around the clock in the 12-county Salem transportation district, including the New River Valley, district maintenance engineer said Thursday, even though bare pavement is showing on most roads.

"It isn't over yet," said Allen Williams, "and it may be quite some time before we can put away our equipment."

Property owners unfamiliar with snow removal operations may not understand that because a snow plow or blower has been down a road, it does not mean the Virginia Department of Transportation is through. "We haven't even begun the process of widening," Williams said. "So far, we've only made roads passable. . . . When we make another pass to widen out the road, we're going to fill driveways and entrances with snow again."

That can be irritating for those who have shoveled out driveways, but time does not permit stopping to clean entrances.

"Naturally, we'd love to provide that kind of service," Williams said. "But, being realistic, VDOT does not have the funds nor the manpower to accomplish this task."

People can help by waiting until plows go by to fully open driveways and sidewalks, and by parking vehicles away from areas where plows need to go, he said.

"We appreciate the patience people have shown our snow equipment operators," Williams said. "I think we've made remarkable progress considering . . . that our district is made up of 9,200 miles of road."

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