CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Highways (WVDOH) is pretreating roads across the state as crews prepare for a wintry mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain expected Tuesday, December 2, 2025.
Salt brine is being applied to major routes to make it harder for snow and ice to stick and easier for plows to clear once precipitation begins.
Where crews are working
- District 1 (Boone, Clay, Kanawha, Mason, Putnam): Interstates, U.S. highways, state routes, and other Priority 1 roads.
- District 2 (Cabell, Lincoln, Logan, Mingo, Wayne): Priority 1 routes in Cabell, northern Wayne, and Lincoln counties.
- District 3 (Calhoun, Jackson, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt, Wood): All Priority 1 routes.
- District 4 (Doddridge, Harrison, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Taylor): All Priority 1 routes.
- District 5 (Berkeley, Grant, Hampshire, Hardy, Jefferson, Mineral, Morgan): All Priority 1 routes.
- District 6 (Brooke, Hancock, Marshall, Ohio, Tyler, Wetzel): WV 2, US 250, I‑70, I‑470, and WV 88.
- District 8 (Pendleton, Pocahontas, Randolph, Tucker): Priority 1 routes in Randolph and Tucker counties.
- District 9 (Fayette, Greenbrier, Monroe, Nicholas, Summers): Interstates, U.S. highways, state routes, and Priority 1 roads.
- District 10 (McDowell, Mercer, Raleigh, Wyoming): Interstate 64 and the Coalfields Expressway.
Road priorities
WVDOH classifies roads into four priority levels: - Priority 1: Interstates, expressways, U.S. and WV routes, and some high‑traffic county roads.
- Priority 2: Remaining school bus routes.
- Priority 3: Other routes not including park and forest roads.
- Priority 4: Park and forest routes.
Crews focus first on Priority 1 roads during storms, then move to lower‑priority routes as conditions allow.
Resources on hand
The WVDOH has about 1,000 snowplows statewide, along with snow blowers and road graders for higher elevations. Drivers conduct dry runs before the snow removal season to familiarize themselves with routes.
As of mid‑October, the agency had stockpiled 186,116 tons of salt and 145,949 gallons of brine, with supplies replenished as needed.
Safety reminder
Officials urge drivers to stay at least 200 feet behind working snowplows and never attempt to pass plows operating side by side.
