Route Clearing Priorities

West Virginia Department of Transportation policy states that, during times of snow and ice, the roads will be plowed and treated around the clock until they are cleared. Route clearing priorities have also been established. Generally speaking, the more heavily traveled roads have the higher priorities.


General Definition
The traffic volume handled by a road determines its priority for snow and ice removal. High-volume arteries such as Interstates, other four-lane highways and major state and federal routes receive first attention. Attention remains focused on these roads until they are cleared. Smaller secondary roads come next, again with traffic volume directing the priority. Residents along lightly traveled rural roads will often find that their road does not receive attention until after the storm has passed.


The Four Priority Categories
Roads in the state highway system are prioritized into four categories for the removal of snow and ice.

1. First-priority routes are roads of major importance and high traffic volume which must be kept open to traffic at all times, regardless of cost. Roads in this category include Interstates, Appalachian Corridors and major urban connectors.
2. Second-priority routes are those only slightly less important than first-priority routes, such as school bus routes and primary roads not included in the first group. These routes are covered as quickly and as frequently as conditions will permit by the same equipment and personnel assigned to maintenance of first-priority routes.
3. Third-priority routes are of lesser importance due to traffic volume, construction and location. Required to be kept passable only for vehicles with tire chains, these roads receive attention only after all second-priority roads have been covered. Since these routes often receive attention only after a storm is over and are then kept passable only for traffic with chains, persons living along them should take necessary precautions.
4. Fourth-priority routes are state roads not essential to travel during snowstorms – that is, roads not needed to provide citizens food, shelter or other essential needs. State park and forest roads are typical of fourth-priority routes that may be left uncleared for extended periods of time.

Streets in Municipalities and Private Subdivisions
The Division of Highways is not responsible for clearing streets in towns and cities that are not part of the state system, nor does it usually maintain streets, lanes or roads in private subdivisions in unincorporated areas. To find out whether a road is on the state system and its priority category, you should contact your local county DOH office.