RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) officials confirmed roads were not pretreated ahead of Monday’s snowfall. VDOT crews spent Tuesday, Dec. 9 plowing and treating roads across the region as they continued clearing snow and ice left behind by Monday’s winter st orm. But, officials revealed wet pavement over the weekend made pretreatment ineffective.  According to VDOT communications specialist Sara Shepherd, the melting from Friday’s earlier snow, combined with scattered showers early Monday, would have prevented brine solution from properly bonding to the road surface. As a result, crews held off until conditions stabilized and began treating roadways around 8 a.m. on Monday. Since the storm moved through, Shepherd said crews have cleared most major routes, including interstates and other primary roadways. Efforts are now shifting to secondary roads and neighborhood streets, where lingering patches of ice and packed snow continue to cause difficulties. Shepherd urged residents to give plow operators space while they work and to avoid travel when possible during slick conditions.  “Give crews room to work if you see them on the snowplows or treating the roads,” Shepherd said. “We all want to get where we need to go, but safety comes first. If it’s an essential trip, use caution. Otherwise, consider postponing travel when roads are icy.” She added that crews will continue operating in 12-hour shifts around the clock until road conditions improve. Residents are encouraged to monitor local weather updates and check resources such as the state’s 511 travel app when deciding whether it’s safe to head out. ...read more read less