This winter season, the City of Charlottesville has put in place several new measures that officials hope will help make the roads more drivable during periods of inclement weather.
These efforts were put to the test last Thursday when the area received three to four inches of snow, prompting the University to cancel all classes after 4 p.m., the first time classes had been canceled since 2003. While the cancellation of classes aided city officials in their attempts to keep students and residents off the roads, a number of new methods were used to ensure driver safety.
Landscape Superintendent Richard Hopkins of the University's Facilities Management Department said a new chemical called Magic Minus Zero is now being added to salt to help melt snow more rapidly. Magic Minus Zero, he said, is a biodegradable liquid that can melt ice at temperatures as cold as 35 degrees below zero.
Furthermore, LED traffic lights have recently been installed at several intersections. These traffic lights have back-up batteries, ensuring that they do not malfunction in the event of power outages.
Hopkins added that bridge sensors are used around Charlottesville to "monitor air temperature, bridge surface temperature and whether the bridge is wet, dry or icy." These sensors have been installed at the intersection of U.S. 29 and U.S. 250, the intersection of Jefferson Park Avenue and Maury Avenue and the intersection of Cherry Avenue and Ridge Street.
In addition to the new methods introduced by the city, the University has policies in place to respond to inclement weather. This includes keeping students and faculty members updated on University operations through both the University Web site and its Snow Info line.
When inclement weather occurs, the Facilities Department begins sprinkling sidewalks immediately in areas of high student or faculty traffic. Once snow begins to fall, Facilities also asks people with on-Grounds parking to move their cars to designated snow areas, so the on-Grounds parking lots can be cleared more effectively.
"We already have in place a very rapid response to any kind of inclement weather condition," University spokesperson Carol Wood said. "Facilities is a well-oiled machine"
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