Traffic
West Virginia Thanksgiving Travel: Salted I-77 Can Still Ice Over
Charleston, WV – West Virginia drivers preparing to travel Interstate 64, Interstate 77 and Interstate 79 this Thanksgiving may be trusting something that cannot always protect them: road salt. Even f
By Nora Whitfield · 2026-11-11T19:12:39.508Z
Charleston, WV – West Virginia drivers preparing to travel Interstate 64, Interstate 77 and Interstate 79 this Thanksgiving may be trusting something that cannot always protect them: road salt. Even freshly treated highways can become dangerously icy when temperatures plunge, creating a serious concern for motorists navigating the state's mountains, steep grades and winding interstate corridors.
According to winter maintenance guidance from transportation agencies, traditional road salt becomes increasingly less effective as pavement temperatures approach 20 degrees Fahrenheit, with its ice melting ability declining further as temperatures fall into the teens and single digits.
And in West Virginia's mountainous terrain, that limitation deserves particular attention.
Why Even Salted West Virginia Highways Can Freeze Road salt isn't magic. It lowers water's freezing point, helping melt ice and reduce freezing under suitable conditions.
However, as pavement temperatures drop, the melting process slows considerably. Around 20 degrees, conventional salt works much more slowly than it does near freezing. Below 15 degrees, salt alone may struggle to melt ice quickly enough to improve traction.
For motorists traveling through Charleston in Kanawha County, Huntington in Cabell County, Beckley in Raleigh County and Morgantown in Monongalia County, that limitation matters.
Major routes including I 64, I 77, I 79 and I 68 can remain slippery despite treatment, particularly on mountain grades, bridges, overpasses and shaded stretches where pavement temperatures can remain below freezing.
Thanksgiving Travel Could Increase the Danger Thanksgiving falls Thursday, Nov. 26, bringing holiday travelers onto West Virginia's major interstate corridors connecting Charleston, Huntington, Beckley, Morgantown and neighboring states.
If snow, freezing rain or rapidly falling temperatures develop during the holiday travel period, even treated highways could become dangerously slick.
Mountain elevations can experience colder conditions than nearby valleys, while moisture can refreeze overnight and during early morning travel.
The West Virginia Division of Highways uses multiple winter maintenance strategies, but no treatment guarantees ice free pavement under every condition.
Before departing, motorists should check National Weather Service forecasts and WV 511 for updated highway conditions, traffic cameras and travel alerts.
The bottom line: A salted interstate is not necessarily a safe interstate. Drivers should reduce speed, increase following distances and remain especially cautious on mountain curves, steep grades and bridges.