Neighborhood streets won't be plowed

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Don't expect to see city plows in your neighborhood anytime soon.

Virginia Beach Public Works says cleaning up the city is costing approximately $40,000 a day, and that doesn't include plowing your neighborhood.

Twenty-four Virginia Beach Public Works trucks spent Tuesday plowing primary streets.

“The plan is to finish those up today and then we'll shift gears to the secondary streets,” said Maintenance Administrator Mark Johnson.

“To hit the neighborhood streets we'd probably need about 400 trucks,” said Johnson.

That's about 16 times as many trucks as the city has.

“Neighborhoods really need it,” said Marvette Gallop.

Maybe so, but Johnson says how often does the city really need it?

“We're not equipped because we do not have that many snowfall events in Virginia Beach,” said Johnson.

The same is true across Hampton Roads.

“I understand that because we get snow once or twice a year and whenever it hits this bad it's going to take a while for them to catch up with everything,” said driver Brian Hassett.”

Virginia Beach Public works says they're actually right on schedule. They could get to neighborhood side streets by the end of the week, but by then, the sun will likely have melted what snow is left.

When driving on side streets, AAA says never break and turn at the same time, leave plenty of room for the car in front of you, stop ten feet before you need to in case you skid and if you fishtail, take your foot off the break and gas and slowly and with control turn your wheel in the direction you want to go.

Just a reminder about state law in Virginia - you must clear your sidewalks of snow and ice. That goes for homeowners and business owners.

If you own property and don't clear it, you could face a fine of more than $200.