I95 closed in VA

[arjay]

I’ve been caught in a few blizzards here. Lucked out both times and spent the night on the floor of hotel lobbies.It wasn’t too bad,I was young,but that girlfriend of a friend just couldn’t stop whining about it the first time it happened-Yikes!!
That was the worst part lol

 

[Tom S.]

I guess I'll have to be the one who asks "Why was that idiot reporter standing out on the expressway?". Got to love news reporters, they make the rest of us look a lot more intelligent.

 

[Greyman50]

I always carry detailed maps( paper) on any long distance trip, easy to see “ alternate routes” to avoid idiot caused crashes on interstates.

 

[Kenna]

Most large plows have wheels that ride on the pavement, cutting edge is close. Wheels also carry some of the load of the plow,even the plow on my F250 has skids that touch the ground.

 

[sar4937]

Help?

They could have brought some Porta-Potties and water, and food in by UTV's or snowmobiles. This will last for days, as the stalled vehicles are towed out. I can see where some roads are cleared enough to walk some aid over the fence.

 

[pawngal]

Wonder if there were any Teslas in that mess? Another reason to avoid electric cars.

 

[LVSteve]

Seems like the Virginia State Patrol need to take lessons from NHP. When there is the chance of snow, NHP troopers are deployed to the bottom of the major hills, and if you don't have chains, or 4x4 plus snow tires, you ain't going.

 

[wood714]

One good thing about 95 in my general area are the signs they can put messages on. In the past month they have saved me two times from sitting in traffic.

Last one said Traffic Stopped in 9 Miles Left Lane Closed. I got off at US1 by Destination Daytona and took it home.

Wish they had them on I-4.

 

[pawngal]

In some places up here in the more northern parts there are stop gates that can close the Interstates at various exits. Doubt Virginia has anything like that.

 

[Chuck24]

In some places up here in the more northern parts there are stop gates that can close the Interstates at various exits. Doubt Virginia has anything like that.

We have them, never use them. They for designed to use to reverse the traffic flow for evacuations, but as far as I know, never used them for that either.

 

[pawngal]

In some places up here in the more northern parts there are stop gates that can close the Interstates at various exits. Doubt Virginia has anything like that.

We have them, never use them. They for designed to use to reverse the traffic flow for evacuations, but as far as I know, never used them for that either.

I have seen them used on I90 in southern MN because of winter storm conditions.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I live in the Sierra Nevada foot hills & snow means it's winter. Just prepare for it. Crossed the pass one time 8.000 ft, pickup & camper when the wind gusts were 100 MPH. Hunkered down in a pullout & spent the night. No problem.

 

[Beemerguy53]

...‘Course multiple knuckleheads were driving with hazard flashers ‘on’ which is illegal in VA. ��‍

Accounts report that in yesterday’s storm multiple people simply abandoned their vehicles in the travel lanes. That, of course, is far dumber than driving with hazards on...

There is no excuse -- none whatsoever -- for the bad driving that was exhibited in that storm. The local news here was full of stories of stuck cars and traffic jams...ridiculous.

If your tires and/or car aren't capable...or you're terrified of the white stuff...or if you're just not that good a driver...stay the blank at home when it snows. As Dirty Harry once said...a man's got to know his limitations.

 

[Beemerguy53]

For sure. Driving to and from Florida on 95 been caught in a couple serious you shall wait situations in that general area.

One year being a well seasoned winter driver piloting a good set up full size 4X4 Blazer and some creative driving got me through the mess in a decent time.

When driving on I-95 along the corridor between Richmond and Baltimore, I usually bypass the Interstate and take the old US Route 301.

You can pick up Route 301 from either I-295 (which encircles Richmond) or I-95 itself (which runs through Richmond). It then runs northeast, away from Richmond, crosses the Potomac River into Maryland, bypasses Washington, and links up with I-97 just north of Annapolis. When you get onto I-97, it will take you up to I-895 and the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel, and then connect you again with I-95 just north of Baltimore.

This sounds more complicated than it is, and while parts of 301 have intersections and traffic lights, I find that overall it's a much less stressful way to get through that region. You might not save much time overall, but it's a lot less hassle.

 

[Greyman50]

Big question is, just where was the Va. State police??????Where was VDOT?????? Thinking there are going to be some hard questions asked.

 

[dockmurgw]

Big question is, just where was the Va. State police??????Where was VDOT?????? Thinking there are going to be some hard questions asked.

Or the National Guard?

 

[zeke]

Makes ya think twice about the new fangled self steering cars?

 

[rock doc]

Makes ya think twice about the new fangled self steering cars?

Also makes you think about electric vehicles. During one on-the-scene news report, there was a stranded Tesla off the side of the road.

 

[ladder13]

Big question is, just where was the Va. State police??????Where was VDOT?????? Thinking there are going to be some hard questions asked.

The buck stops with the man at the top.

 

[Puller]

There is no excuse -- none whatsoever -- for the bad driving that was exhibited in that storm. The local news here was full of stories of stuck cars and traffic jams...ridiculous.

If your tires and/or car aren't capable...or you're terrified of the white stuff...or if you're just not that good a driver...stay the blank at home when it snows. As Dirty Harry once said...a man's got to know his limitations.

Too many people don't take winter weather issues seriously enough. They seem to think it's like Disney World where everything has a safety net. No doubt some of these folks were out in this stuff with little more than flip flops and a sweater and never giving any consideration they may get stranded even for a short time.

I suspect some will be blaming the government for the bad weather.