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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 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. A light snow began to make area roads slick about 7 p.m. and caused a commuter nightmare that must have summoned the memory of a snowstorm in 2011 that trapped commuters for up to 13 hours. Drivers said the roads apparently had not been treated.
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. With about an inch of snow in many spots, drivers in the District and on major suburban thoroughfares crept along.
Robert Fletcher, 57, left his Farragut Square law office before 7 p.m. and headed toward a 30-minute, 12-mile commute to his Falls Church home. More than four hours later, he was calling his wife from behind the wheel of his Infinity, hopelessly mired in a miles-long backup on Interstate 66 just west of Rosslyn, inching less than a half-mile in four hours.
“This is an unbelievable situation. It’s just a dangerous situation, and the authorities are doing absolutely nothing. I just don’t understand,” Fletcher said in a telephone interview.
Also in Virginia, major delays continued near midnight on interstates, including I-395, I-66 and I-95. Traffic backed up for more than a mile on approaches to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge from Virginia to Maryland just before midnight, as weary drivers saw no end in sight.
D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) appeared to miss the potential hazards of a slight amount of snow.
At a midday news conference Wednesday, she focused on the impending weekend storm and not once mentioned the possibility of snow affecting the city earlier for the evening commute.
Speaking from her city-issued SUV while driving up Georgia Avenue after 10 p.m., Bowser called into Fox 5 News and said the entire region was affected and that the precursor to Friday had brought “more snow than was forecast.”
Bowser said that city crews had been pretreating arterial roads since 4 p.m. A spokesman for her office said there were more than 70 accidents in the District on Wednesday evening.
Asked if Wednesday night’s gridlock should give residents pause about the city’s preparedness for a larger storm, the mayor told Fox 5 that the city would take precautions to get motorists off the road before the storm.
“We, of course, will put safety first,” she said.
A Maryland State Highway Administration spokeswoman said the roads were not pretreated because the forecast was calling for no more than a squall.A Maryland State Highway Administration spokeswoman said the roads were not pretreated because the forecast was calling for no more than a squall.
“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.” Spokeswoman Kellie 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.
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. In Virginia, state transportation officials did not pretreat roads because forecasts called for temperatures so low that the treatment might freeze on roads, making them more hazardous. “It only takes a little bit of ice to create a very serious situation,” said Jennifer McCord, a spokeswoman.
In Virginia, state transportation officials did not pretreat roads because forecasts called for high enough temperatures to prevent widespread freezing. In Arlington, the county’s Department of Environmental services said they began pretreating roads with brine early Wednesday afternoon, in preparation for the week’s forecast.
“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.” “We’re currently fully mobilized, and will be through the night, treating with salt on our primary, secondary and school routes,” said spokeswoman Jessica Baxter.
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. Michael Czin, a spokesman for Bowser, 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.
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.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.
“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.” “Top recommendation: If you don’t have to drive, stay home,” said Mark Brady, a Prince George’s County fire department spokesman.
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.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.
“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.” “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.”
Piringer added: “Slow down, move over. These conditions affect emergency response like everyone else.”
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.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 police had to deal with more than 50 crashes, which did not include calls for stuck vehicles and other hazards, officials said. Fairfax County police had to deal with more than 50 crashes, which did not include calls for stuck vehicles and other hazards.
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. Even President Obama’s motorcade was affected, making its way from Joint Base Andrews at 7:26 p.m. and through 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.
After nearly an hour, the vehicles, slipping and skidding, started making more aggressive use of their sirens and stoplight privileges. After nearly an hour, the vehicles, slipping and skidding, started making more aggressive use of their sirens and stoplight privileges. The ride ended at the White House at approximately 8:40 p.m.
[Evening snow brings traffic gridlock across Washington][Evening snow brings traffic gridlock across Washington]
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.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.
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.
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.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.“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. Aaron Davis, Mary Pat Flaherty and Julie Zauzmer contributed to this report.
Julie Zauzmer contributed to this report.