HENRICO COUNTY, Va. — Henrico County officials say primary roads are in good shape and most secondary roads are drivable, but thick ice and packed snow continue to slow progress in neighborhoods following Sunday’s winter weather.
Crews are working in difficult conditions where hard‑packed snow and ice must be broken up and pushed aside, a process county officials say moves much slower than clearing powdery snow.
Snow plow driver Kris Norrell with Henrico's Department of Public Works said crews are working 12‑hour shifts, with one team running from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and another overnight.
"We got a lot going on. It’s been real busy,” Norrell said in a video produced by Henrico County. “Neighborhoods are real bad. But hopefully we’ll get a little more sun, get a little temperature go up… soften this stuff up, makes it a lot easier.”
Norrell said compacted ice has challenged plow operators.
"The plow just continues to just fold over, because it’s just ice,” Norrell said. “I just have to let it fold, but as I do it, I just back up and start over again and I go down to low gear.”
He said the most effective approach is to break up the rough surface and then return later with salt to help melt the remaining ice.
"There’s nothing we can do to rush it," he said.
Henrico continues to coordinate with fire and police to ensure emergency responders can reach those in need and has urged drivers to stay off the roads when possible, noting that traffic slows snow‑removal operations.
Schools were closed Monday, Tuesday and will remain closed Wednesday this week because of the conditions.
“As of right now we’re just doing the best we can,” Norrell said. “Best thing people can do is just stay off the roads, let us get the roads clear… I’m definitely ready for some warm weather.”
But hopefully we'll get a little more sun, get a little temperature go up a little bit today, soften this stuff up, makes it a lot easier.
We're doing the best we can.
Trying to make things possible so people can get out and do what they need to do, but it's really, really rough out there, like the plow just continues to just fold over, because it's just ice.
I can feel it, and you know, it's just, I can't stop it from folding.
I just have to let it fold, but as I do it, I just back up and start over again and I go down to low gear.
There's nothing we can do to rush it, so we have to try to plow it a little bit and best thing we can do is after we can get this rough surface off we'll go back and salt down.
So it'll give it a chance to work in and melt, then we'll come back later on and it'll be soft and we can plow with it then.
As of right now we're just doing the best we can.
Best thing people can do is like just stay off the roads, let us get the roads clear.
When there's a lot of traffic out here it makes it really hard for us because we have to stop and let them go around.
But weather like this though, it definitely keeps us busy. You know, I just like to stay busy. And always try to do the best job I can, you know.
I'm definitely ready for some warm weather."
This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.
CBS 6 is committed to sharing community voices on this important topic. Email your thoughts to the CBS 6 Newsroom.
📲: CONNECT WITH US
Blue Sky | Facebook | Instagram | X | Threads | TikTok | YouTube
This story was initially reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy. To learn more about how we use AI in our newsroom, click here.
