ARLINGTON, Va. - The slush on many residential streets slowly turned to ice Wednesday, giving drivers who returned home from work an unwelcome surprise as they turned into their neighborhoods.

With strong winds and temperatures expected to dip below freezing overnight, the slippery ice on roads and driveways will likely stick around through Thursday.

While most of the major highways may be clear, it is still easy to put a spin on the street conditions in the Virginia suburbs. The untreated side roads and the lack of traction made it tough for those just trying to pull away from their homes.

"I hope I can get out...it's pretty icy this morning," said Alexandria (web | news) resident Tim Whitehouse.

The Route 1 corridor was the scene for early morning fender benders as icy intersections wouldn't allow for a complete stop.

"You just have to look out for other people," said Alexandria resident Millicent Baltimore.

The main roads cleared as the day wore on and the temperatures went up, but the side streets still had some cars stuck.

"You can see this is all solid ice...and I guess they haven't treated them yet," said Arlington resident Ted Jenkins.

"I'm just glad I have four wheel drive that helps a lot," added Baltimore.

On Wilson Boulevard in Arlington Wednesday night, pedestrians avoided one short stretch of sidewalk that remained untreated. "I would rather take my chances with the automobiles than here on the sidewalk," said Doug Dause, an Arlington resident.

The Virginia Department of Transportation says the lack of serious accidents is a credit to a fleet of a thousand trucks, putting down layers of chemicals, sand and salt on the highways and secondary roads. Meanwhile, the neighborhood streets are just now getting cleared, but the slush pushed aside by driving is starting to harden back up, making the journey home for may a challenge. VDOT devoted several trucks to specifically treating the ramps and overpasses in the Springfield mixing bowl.

Nebraska Jones, a VDOT road crew member, warned, "you got your good spots and your bad spots. Take extra caution today."

After Tuesday's steady day-long snow, round two of this winter storm took the form of a fresh coat of ice and sleet that encased the area overnight. A misty freezing rain fell in Springfield well into mid-morning and the temperature held steady below freezing.

Bing Lee's windshield looks like many likely will Wednesday morning, covered in a thick sheet of ice. "I'm having to work pretty hard to get it off; I'm having to jam it in just to break the ice. It's hard work."

Tuesday night, school teacher Katie Donovan borrowed a neighbor's shovel so she can safely navigate her front steps and walk in the morning. But on Wednesday morning, those cleared sidewalks and driveways could prove to be the most dangerous spots: exposed concrete plus overnight precipitation could add up to a dangerous situation.

Motorist Jim Boone joked, "I came outside to slide on the ice skating rink."

Roads and walkways not treated or cleared Tuesday are now a crunchy mess, though perhaps the traction is better than the slippery sheet of ice where pavement was shoveled.

Business owner Mary Powell noted, "You just have to be careful when you go on a side street, because you hit that little patch of ice and it could send you flying."

Overnight, road crews had a chance to work on the freeways and some major arteries. But it is the side streets in neighborhoods where a refreeze could prove risky.

Motorists can call 511 or log onto www.511Virginia.org for the latest traffic and travel conditions.

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