A few roads still closed, signals out

Three secondary roads remain closed and a handful of traffic signals are still dark because of downed trees and power lines from Friday’s storm that wreaked havoc in the Fredericskburg area. (Click here for updates.)

In Stafford, Greenbank and McCarty roads are still closed. The other closure, Ely’s Ford Road at Rapidan Road, is in Spotsylvania, according to Kelly Hannon with the Virginia Department of Transportation.

“These road closures are due to a mixture of downed trees and power lines entangled in the roadway, or just downed power lines,” Hannon said.

She added that VDOT is working with utility companies to shut down the lines so highway department crews can clear debris from the roads.

VDOT crews have been out all weekend clearing blocked roads and they will continue the same work throughout the week.

“A number of traffic signals are still out in both Stafford and Spotsylvania due to lack of power,” Hannon said.

Drivers should treat intersections without working signals as four-way stops, unless police are directing traffic, Hannon said.

When signals come back on, they work in “flash mode” for about 10 minutes and then are full functional, she said, adding that many signals have battery backup, but that last for only four to eight hours.

The storm will have no effect on road projects, Hannon said, noting that Monday night’s planned closure of the Route 208 bridge at Lake Anna is still on tap.

But, in preparation for July 4 traffic, VDOT will suspend all work zone closures beginning noon Tuesday. The suspension will be in place through noon Thursday.

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