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Light snow, untreated roads cause slick streets and a traffic nightmare Light snow, untreated roads cause slick streets and a traffic nightmare
(35 minutes later)
If Wednesday night was the Washington area’s dress rehearsal for this weekend’s winter storm, then we need a lot of practice — and fast.If Wednesday night was the Washington area’s dress rehearsal for this weekend’s winter storm, then we need a lot of practice — and fast.
Authorities across the region said a light snow began to make area roads slick around 7 p.m. and caused a traffic nightmare, bringing traffic to a standstill throughout the region. Authorities across the region said a light snow began to make area roads slick about 7 p.m. and caused a commuter nightmare, bringing traffic to a standstill across the region. Drivers said the roads apparently had not been treated.
With about an inch of snow in many spots, drivers across the District and on major thoroughfares throughout the suburbs said they crept along, barely moving down mostly untreated roads clogged with delayed evening commuters. With about an inch of snow in many spots, drivers in the District and on major suburban thoroughfares said they crept along. One driver said a 15-mile commute out of the District turned into three hours — and she still wasn’t home.
[How to prepare for this weekend’s high-impact winter storm] A Maryland State Highway Administration spokeswoman said the roads were not pretreated because the forecast was calling for no more than a squall.
Across the region, emergency responders got calls about numerous traffic accidents caused by slippery conditions on roads that apparently had not been treated. “The accumulation was surprising,” spokeswoman Kellie Boulware said. “While they didn’t prep for this storm, we’ll continue to prepare for the next one headed our way.”
Michael Czin, a spokesman for Mayor Muriel Bowser, said that the District’s 911 and 311 lines were burdened Wednesday night by an unusually high number of calls, mostly about snow-related fender benders. Boulware said that as the snowfall continued, the highway agency pulled in additional crews, which were to work through the night to treat slick roads in preparation for the morning rush.
Some callers had difficulty connecting to 911. Czin encouraged residents not to call unless it was a true emergency, and to use the 311 cell phone app instead. In Virginia, state transportation officials did not pretreat roads because forecasts called for high enough temperatures to prevent widespread freezing.
[Capital Weather Gang: How to prepare for an epic snowstorm] “This is another example of the difference between ice and snow,” said Jennifer McCord, a spokeswoman. “It only takes a little bit of ice to create a very serious situation.”
“Top recommendation: If you don’t have to drive stay home,” said Mark Brady, a Prince George’s County fire department spokesman. “Let road crews clear lanes to allow public safety clear access.” Michael Czin, a spokesman for Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D), said that the District’s 911 and 311 phone lines were burdened Wednesday night by an unusually high number of calls, mostly about snow-related fender benders.
In Montgomery County, rescue crews responded to dozens of accidents and officials placed their communications center on “code red” status to deal with call volume. Some callers had difficulty connecting to 911. Czin encouraged residents not to call unless it was a true emergency and to use the 311 cellphone app instead.
“We are quite busy, in particular on the beltway, Route 29, and I 270. We had a rash of wrecks in the Burtonsville and White Oak areas,” said Pete Piringer, a spokesman for the county fire and EMS department. “Top recommendation: If you don’t have to drive, stay home,” said Mark Brady, a Prince George’s County fire department spokesman. “Let road crews clear lanes to allow public safety clear access.”
Fairfax County police responded to, or been called to, more than 50 crashes, which did not include calls for stuck vehicles and other hazards, officials said. In Montgomery County, rescue crews responded to dozens of accidents, and officials placed the county communications center on “code red” status to deal with the call volume.
“Slow down, move over,” said Piringer. “These conditions affect emergency response like everyone else,” he said. “We are quite busy, in particular on the Beltway, Route 29, and I-270, said Pete Piringer, a spokesman for the county Fire and Rescue Service. “We had a rash of wrecks in the Burtonsville and White Oak areas.”
[The suggestion box is open. Name the winter storm!] Piringer added: “Slow down, move over. These conditions affect emergency response like everyone else.”
In Alexandria, officials said they responded to a few fender benders as hills and ramps quickly became slick. Piringer also said Montgomery fire crews found a man unconscious inside a Gaithersburg townhouse, suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a generator. The man was taken to a hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries.
Fairfax County officials reported sheets of ice in spots throughout their jurisdiction, where police responded to accidents and poor conditions on major roads such as I-495 near Route 50 and Van Dorn Street; I-95 near the Fairfax County Parkway and Braddock Road at the intersection of Clifton Road. Fairfax County police had to deal with more than 50 crashes, which did not include calls for stuck vehicles and other hazards, officials said.
Prince William County authorities said the eastern areas were plagued by crashes and icy conditions, creating blockages of major commuter routes such as Routes 1 and 234, in addition to many smaller roads. Even President Obama’s motorcade was affected, making its way from Joint Base Andrews through the streets of suburban Maryland and the District. The vehicles stopped at most stoplights and eased their way through the slow-moving traffic, often employing sirens and flashing lines.
In D.C., police responded to several accidents that backed up traffic: from a hit-and run on Alabama Avenue SE to another accident to slow moving traffic on the 14th Street bridge because of disabled vehicles and police shutdown the Third Street Tunnel’s southbound ramp because of icy conditions. After nearly an hour, the vehicles, slipping and skidding, started making more aggressive use of their sirens and stoplight privileges.
Police requested a salt truck to treat the roadway on the bridge. [Evening snow brings traffic gridlock across Washington]
“I can’t even keep track of all of them,” said a dispatcher. Fairfax officials reported sheets of ice in spots throughout the county, and police responded to accidents and poor conditions on major roads, including I-495 near Route 50 and Van Dorn Street; I-95 near the Fairfax County Parkway; and Braddock Road at Clifton Road.
Metro officials said that all bus lines continued to operate but that buses were delayed between 20 and 40 minutes due to the road conditions and traffic delays. Prince William County authorities said the eastern areas were plagued by crashes and icy conditions, which blocked major commuter routes such as Routes 1 and 234, in addition to many smaller roads.
[If you must travel this weekend, here’s how to do it.] In the District, police responded to several incidents and situations that backed up traffic, including a hit-and-run on Alabama Avenue SE, disabled vehicles on the 14th Street bridge and icy conditions that caused police to shut down the Third Street Tunnel’s southbound ramp. Police called for a salt truck to treat the road surface on the bridge.
“I can’t even keep track of all of them,” a dispatcher said of all the traffic tie-ups.
Metro officials said that all bus lines continued to operate but that buses were delayed by 20 to 40 minutes because of road conditions and related traffic snarls.
Julie Zauzmer contributed to this report.Julie Zauzmer contributed to this report.