Virginia snow-removal costs top $100 million; snow budget exhausted, maintenance fund tapped

Va. dips into maintenance funds to clear snow

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia has plowed through its snow-removal budget and is now dipping into maintenance funds to clear roads after two massive snowstorms in the past week.

The Virginia Department of Transportation has spent its $79 million snow-removal budget and an additional $25 million in a reserve fund to keep thousands of state trucks and contractors on the road. Those accounts were depleted this month.

VDOT spokesman Jeff Caldwell said Thursday the department is now tapping its $1.6 billion maintenance fund to continue snow-removal efforts unabated.

Virginia has already applied for $50 million in emergency federal assistance to cover storm costs in December. It is just now compiling costs associated with the latest round of storms.