Lynchburg - The Voice - Fall 2023

Lynchburg District | Fall 2023
Amherst | Appomattox | Buckingham | Campbell | Charlotte | Cumberland | Halifax | Nelson | Pittsylvania | Prince Edward
And VDOT is ready!
If the long-term forecasts are to be believed, we could be in
for a robust winter season in 2023-2024. A strong El Nino
pattern is developing, which will peak in late December and
into January, according to DTN. While that usually means
less snow for most of the northern US, it means more for the
Mid-Atlantic states.
More Snow:
We can expect above average snowfall across much of
Virginia this winter, especially over the second half of the
season.
Colder Temperatures:
The best opportunity for sustained below average
temperatures will be in February.
VDOT is ready
Whatever we get, we must be prepared, and the Lynchburg
District is ready to go with the equipment and human power
necessary to get the job done.
“We have worked hard on our snow plan and we feel good
about our preparations,” said Kenneth Martin, district
maintenance engineer.
“We’ve done our dry runs. We have our equipment ready and
our plan. Now we just need to see what winter throws at us.
But no matter what we get, we’ll tackle it. We’ll keep going
until we get the roads cleared.”
“A lot of people don’t realize how much planning goes into
this. They don’t realize that we start our preparations, our
hiring and our dry runs back in July. But it’s important. When
those flakes fall, we have to be ready.”
The blue areas can
expect more snow
for 2023-2024
Source: DTN
The Lynchburg District received
its first real snow of the season
early on December 11, 2023
Lynchburg District
Snow Removal By The Numbers
*$10 Million allocated to Winter Weather
Road Maintenance
*More than 530 pieces of snow removal
equipment
*Salt: 32,000 tons *Abrasives: 6,602 tons
*Brine: 242,000 gallons
*Liquid Chloride: 31,800 gallons
*460+ VDOT and contract employees

Showing how it’s done DTN 23-24
Lynchburg Media gets a primer on
Winter Weather Preps
Winter Snowfall Forecast
Mark Crouch, supervisor, Timberlake AHQ and Billy Lowe, TOII
explain the process of making and using brine and using
adhesives to clear and provide traction on snowy and icy roads
The Lynchburg District hosted local media on
November 30 to discuss preparations for snow
removal operations.
They went through the process of making brine and
showing off one of the newer machines now available
to do so. Those machines automate much of the
process, making brine creation easier, more accurate,
and faster.
The Lynchburg District has three of them.
“It makes the process so much easier and faster,” said
Billy Lowe, transportation operator, Timberlake AHQ.
The reporter crews on hand asked about the
challenges of clearing and maintaining the roads
during a strong winter storm.
Among the advice given - to pay close attention to the
forecast and avoid driving in bad conditions.
“The safest place to be during inclement weather is
indoors and not out on the roads,” said Len Stevens,
communications director.
Mark Crouch, superintendent, Timberlake AHQ had
another important piece of advice.
“When our plows are out on the road, please give them
plenty of space. If you happen to be on the roads and
see our trucks out there, stay well back of them. Give
our crews the space to get the job done and we’ll do
it.”
DTN’s forecast for winter weather
shows higher than average
snowfall totals in the heart of
Central Virginia, including much of
the Lynchburg District.
ABC 13's Weather Department is
predicting 10-20" of snow in
Pittsylvania, Halifax, Charlotte, and
Prince Edward counties; 14-28"
further north in Campbell,
Appomattox, parts of Cumberland,
and Buckingham counties; and even
higher amounts, 25-40"(!) in
sections of Amherst and Nelson
counties. That’s a lot of snow, in
some areas, more than twice the
average yearly amount.

“He was a lifesaver that day”
TO II Don Watson spotted a man and his dog in need and came to the rescue
One May afternoon, Don Watson was driving his truck back to the Mount Airy Headquarters at the end of his
shift when something in a nearby field caught his eye.
“It just didn’t look right,” said Watson.
What he saw was a man lying in the field next to a wheelchair and a dog. The man’s name is Brian Floyd. His
dog is named Fatman. And they were in a bind.
Floyd had been having trouble with his phone, so he was on his way to a neighbor’s house through the field for
help. Suddenly, Fatman pulled hard. A front wheel went into a hole and broke right off - throwing Floyd from
his chair. He was stuck there in the field for some 15-20 minutes - with several vehicles driving by and the sun
beating down on him.
“It was hot that day,” said Floyd. I remember that.”
Watson pulled over and went to assist Floyd, who asked that his backup wheelchair, back at his house, be
brought down to him. Watson retrieved the chair, helped Floyd into it, and saw that he and Fatman both
returned safely home.
Watson said he was just happy to drive by when he did. He saw a person in need and just did the right thing.
Floyd was extremely thankful.
“He was a lifesaver that day. If we had more people like him in the world, the world would be a much better
place. I can tell you that.”

Showcasing Excellence
Lynchburg District DE Values Awards winners celebrated on November 16
Lifetime Achievement Award
Rayford Clark
Nominator: Brian Casto
Rayford Clark has worked at VDOT since 1967! He has been in his
current role as head of surveying for the Lynchburg District for 32
years. Throughout those years, he has had a tremendous impact.
As nominator Brian Casto put it:
“He has more institutional knowledge of how our facilities were
constructed and maintained than anyone in the district.”
Ray’s passion about his work at VDOT has even rubbed off on two
of his children who are also VDOT employees.
Casto said: “The Lynchburg District is proud to have finished each
of the last 10 years on time and on budget. Ray and his team are a
big reason for that.”
Lifetime Achievement Award
Daphne Ashwell Nominator: Greg Freshour
Daphne has worn many hats at VDOT since arriving in 1988:
Secretary Senior, Program Support Technician, Personnel
Practices Analyst, Human Resources Analyst II, Acting Human
Resources Manager II, and District Learning Manager. About
Daphne, Greg Freshour said: “Only those who have worked with
Daphne over all these years can attest to the impact she has
made. Through our training programs, the Lynchburg District has
been able to develop and grow leaders across our entire district.
The impact of Daphne’s training and development can be seen in
the quality of employees she helped to achieve success. I can’t
say enough about the careers of VDOT employees Daphne has
impacted throughout her time with VDOT.”
Lifetime Achievement Award
George Wise
Nominator: Don French
George Wise came to VDOT after working oil fields in Texas. He
started with VDOT as a density technician, then became a
geologist overseeing VDOT’s drill crew. Don French said: “I can
only think of one word when describing Bill Wise and that is
passion. Bill is working on 37 years with VDOT and has earned
every day. He runs a tight ship as Lynchburg District Quality
Assurance Manager for Materials. He leads 9 people in field and
lab testing, ensuring the material going into our roads
demonstrates quality. His efforts make Lynchburg projects some of
the best in the state. He will leave a lasting impression on those of
us who worked with him, and his legacy will be etched in the
projects he touched.”

Showcasing Excellence
Lynchburg District DE Values Awards winners celebrated on November 16
Outstanding VDOT Employee
Ryan Linthicum Nominator: Nathan Hafner
Ryan was selected as both the Lynchburg District and statewide
VDOT Equipment Technician of the Year for 2023! In his DE Award
nomination, Nathan Hafner said: “Ryan views everything he does in
life as having his signature on it.” Ryan has mentored other young
technicians. He also often stops to help others with mechanical
problems on the side of the road, recently helping an elderly lady
get her car started, and helping someone in a grocery store parking
lot who’d been struggling for two hours to replace a broken belt on
a 6L diesel engine. He helped the man get the belt on - as always,
at no charge. Well done, Ryan!
Outstanding VDOT Leader
Christopher Woofter Nominator: Vincent Mayberry
Chris was lead inspector on a $17 million dollar project that lasted
three years and involved two bridge replacements through three
phases of construction. About his efforts, Vincent Mayberry wrote:
“Chris displayed an action-oriented focus to delivering the project by
leading a team of inspection staff and achieved a CQIP score of 94%.
He provided much more than technical expertise, leading monthly
progress meetings, coordinating submittals with District staff, and
maintaining communication with the Contractor. His leadership and
commitment demonstrated true interpersonal savvy. Chris always
approaches his work with an attitude and a mindset that drives
results.”
Heroism Award
Don Watson
Nominator: Michael Adams
At the end of his shift in Pittsylvania County, Donald Watson was
heading back to the Mt. Airy Area Headquarters, when he thought
he saw something unusual off the road in a field. He safely turned
his vehicle around and found a man lying in the middle of the field.
Donald went over to help the man, an amputee whose wheelchair
had broken. The man said several vehicles passed by and he was
getting anxious that no one would stop to help. Donald made sure
the man was okay and retrieved his spare wheelchair, then helped
the man through the field and back to his home. (Read the full story
on page three of this edition of The Voice.)

Showcasing Excellence
Lynchburg District DE Values Awards winners celebrated on November 16
Quality Improvement - Team
Gerry Harter, Amanda Cox, Raina Rosado,
Keith Rider, Lindsey Hodges, Jay Craddock,
Rick Youngblood
Nominator: Len Stevens
The proposed improvement to the intersection of Route 29 and
Tightsqueeze Rd. in Pittsylvania County appeared doomed.
Residents were against the Restricted Crossing U-Turn plan. The
Board of Supervisors and County Administrator dropped their
support of the project, requesting it be cancelled. Money already
spent on Preliminary Engineering, Right of Way, and Utilities would
be lost. But instead of accepting defeat, the team worked together
to come up with a new design, one that does appeal to the
residents. This new project is now moving forward with full
approval and with many of the same safety and efficiency benefits.
Job well done!
Outstanding Customer Service - Team
Danny Cruff, Jimmy Dunaway, Michael Betts, Larry Hawker,
James Foster, Quentin Byrd, Chris Chappell, Simon Jones,
Tony Harris, Steve Noblin, Alex Bassett
Nominator: Keith Rider
This team worked long, hard, hours to ensure traffic was safe and
as efficient as possible at the Blue Ridge Rock Festival in
September. The BRRF drew over 50,000 people, which created
traffic congestion and potential safety issues at the day parking
areas and on Routes 62, 119 and 58. Keith Rider wrote: “The
individuals provided exceptional customer service supporting the
VSP, NCSHP, event staff, residents, and the traveling public day
and night over the course of 5 days. This was a job well done by
all involved from VDOT.”
Environmental Stewardship - Team
Kevin Bradley, Matt Lipscomb, Amanda Winks, Regina
Newman,Daniel Brown, Brian Casto, Terry Meadows,
Greg Parsons, Thomas Pettus, Kerry Gavitt
Nominator: Len Stevens
The Route 501 Passing Lanes project in Halifax County was a
substantial challenge. The team had to work together to pull off a
large project with significant grade changes while having to
maintain traffic. Grade changes were happening daily. The goal
was to increase safety by adding passing lanes. Among the
biggest challenges - how to do it with limited impact to the
environment, with stream relocations and lots of grading work
directly adjacent to live streams. Multiple environmental permits
were needed across multiple agencies. There were seven
jurisdictional crossings, which involved temporary and permanent
environmental impacts. Work included installing new drainage
structures, extending an existing box culvert, and relocating
approximately 3,000 linear feet of streams. The team worked well with all internal and external partners and addressed
items as they encountered them with a forward-thinking and cooperative approach. From design to completion, it was a
lot of hard work, but the project has greatly improved safety in the corridor – while protecting the environment.

“Once in a lifetime opportunity”
Some Lynchburg District employees got to tour
the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Project
In November, a few members of the leadership team in the Lynchburg District had the opportunity to visit the
Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel project. The project is doubling the existing tunnel from two lanes in each
direction to four lanes.
They describe the experience as one they will never forget - and the project as one that leaves them in awe.
“I was blown away by the size and complexity of the project,” said Frank Lukanich, Structure and Bridge
engineer. “The engineering and logistics required to build the project was almost as impressive as the tunnel
boring machine, Mary. It has reached the lowest point in the tunnel at 155 feet below the river,”
That machine has bored more than half a mile across the James River from Norfolk toward Hampton.
When it breaks through - in the Spring - it will turn around and drill back to Norfolk - with just eight feet between
the two tunnels.
“In my opinion, it’s amazing tolerance to go eight feet apart,” said Scott Frederick, residency administrator,
Farmville. “You walk down in the tunnel, it’s 48 feet in diameter. The tunnel is put together in pieces. I would call
them panels that form a ring. They built the tunnel one ring at a time. Each ring is about 6 feet long. Then they
bore six more feet and complete another ring. It really made me proud of VDOT’s accomplishment.”
Brian Casto, L&D engineer says he’ll never forget the tour or the project.
“It should be on an episode of ’Engineering Marvels.’ The size and complexity, the precision and technology
associated with this endeavor is extremely impressive.”
The Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion is the largest highway construction project in Virginia’s history,
with a total cost of more than $3.9 billion. Construction could be completed as early as 2026.

Lynchburg District leads the way in SEAP art contest!
The Lynchburg District had an incredible response to the challenge of putting artwork together for the Employee Safety Art
Contest, performing better than every other district in both total submissions and in winners.
Lynchburg earned 45 SEAP points for the art contest. The next nearest districts earned 20 points. Here is a look at just
some of the creative entries. Congratulations to all the winners! (See the rest of the entries on the OSSEM DOTi site.)
Calendar Cover winner - Andy Beachly
Hand Safety winner - Michael Adams
Backing Safety winner - Kimberly Hudson
Ladder Safety winner - Wanda Shelton
Winter Safety winner - James Johnston
Trenching Safety winner - Amanda Wilmink

Enjoy a Safe Holiday Season
Amanda Wilmink
From late November to mid-January, when families gather, parties are scheduled and travel spikes,
safety should be top of mind. Follow these tips to keep your family safe and injury-free throughout
the season.
Traveling for the Holidays? Be Prepared
Be sure your vehicle is in good running condition. Get plenty of rest and be prepared for long hours
on the road or in the air.
Prepare your car for winter and keep an emergency kit with you.
Avoid drowsy and distracted driving.
Leave early and plan ahead for heavy traffic.
Make sure everyone in the vehicle is buckled up.
Designate a sober driver when attending a party.
Practice defensive driving
Decorate Safely
Decorating is one of the best ways get in a holiday mood, but emergency departments see
thousands of injuries involving holiday decorating every year.
When decorating, follow these tips from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Keep poisonous plants - mistletoe, holly berries, and amaryllis - away from children and pets.
If using an artificial tree, only use those labelled as fire-resistant.
For a live tree, cut about 2 inches of the trunk to expose fresh wood for better water absorption.
Remember to water it and remove it from your home when it is dry.
Place your tree at least 3 feet way from fireplaces, radiators, and other heat sources to keep
them from sparking a fire.
Only use indoor lights indoors and outdoor lights outdoors.
Choose the right ladder for the task when hanging lights or other decorations.
Replace light sets that have broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose
connections.
Follow the package directions on the number of light sets that can be plugged into one socket.
It is best to turn off all lights and decorations when you go to bed or leave the house.
Watch Out for Fire Starters!
The use of candles and fireplaces, combined with an increase in the amount of combustible,
seasonal decorations in many homes during the holiday season can mean a greater risk for fire.
Place candles where they cannot be knocked down or blown over.
Keep them out of the reach of children.
Use flameless rather than lighted candles near flammable objects.
Use a screen on the fireplace at all times when a fire is burning.
Source: National Safety Council “Enjoy a Safe Holiday Season”

Tales of Service with a touch of Hollywood
Coast Guard veteran Matt Moyer came to Lynchburg to speak to VDOT, to thank
those who’ve served, and to discuss movie magic and meeting Kevin Costner
On November 9th, a special event held at VDOT’s Lynchburg
District honored military veterans across Virginia. 26-year
Coast Guard veteran, Captain Matt Moyer, spoke about his service,
close calls, and how he helped Kevin Costner make “The Guardian”
a more realistic movie.
Moyer spoke in Lynchburg, but other districts joined through a virtual
meeting to hear him speak. And they heard a lot, including the time
Moyer was involved in a helicopter rescue of three men stranded on
a boat during what was at the time Tropical Storm Gordon (it would
later become a hurricane).
“We knew it was bad,” Moyer said. “The boat was listing, the sails
were shredded off, the rigging torn apart, debris in the water. We
approached the vessel at an 80-foot hover and when we did, our #2
engine fire light came on. We transitioned into forward flight and we
left them.”
They had to determine what was wrong with their HH-60J Jayhawk.
“At one point, the flight mechanic has to exit the aircraft and hang
outside the cabin door, to look inside the engine compartment.”
There was no fire, but the pilot told the crew about the protocol.
“The pilot said ’Protocol has us returning to base, but we can’t leave.
These guys are gonna die.’ So, we all agreed we were going to go
back in.”
They were able to save all three men, who’d been treading water at
that point, and get everyone safely back to land.
Moyer’s service and expertise led him to be chosen as a technical
advisor for the movie “The Guardian” starring Kevin Costner and
Ashton Kutcher. The movie follows Coast Guard rescue swimmer Ben Randall (Costner) who mourns losing his crew
in a fatal accident and copes by training new recruits. One recruit, Jake Fischer (Kutcher) is a cocky swimming
champion. Randall molds the young man into becoming his protege and takes him on a mission in the dangerous
waters of the Bering Strait.
Captain Matt Moyer, U.S. Coast Guard
brought items collected from his years of
service to display at the Veterans Day
event in Lynchburg

Moyer had input into how certain scenes played out, advising how a crew would react in an emergency situation, the
sorts of things they would say and do. His input added realism to the scenes.
Moyer also took the time to thank the veterans in attendance for their service, shaking their hands as they received a
certificate of appreciation from VDOT.
Greg Freshour, Human Resources manager, organized the event and Moyer’s visit.

Did you know?
You can find a lot of information on
the Lynchburg District
site, including videos and a calendar
of upcoming events. Just use the
Districts drop down to find the
Lynchburg District and scroll down to
find all of the content.
Signaling Halloween Fun!
Traffic engineers Danny Cruff and Eli Wilson had some
Halloween fun, dressing Danny up as a functioning traffic light!
Cruff says the get up was a big hit — among co-workers,
passing vehicles whose drivers playfully honked their horns, and
especially the younger trick-or-treaters who came to his house
that night.
(He was showing yellow here, so we assume people were being
extra cautious around him that day!)
Colonel Country Proud!
This VDOT Snow Blade, painted by Altavista Combined School
Art Class, was a big hit at the Altavista Christmas parade. The
parade as held on December 2nd. This photo comes courtesy of
the Altavista Journal, which said people there were still talking
about the parade, and this plow, several days later.