I-95 traffic news - Highway shut down as lawmakers stranded in DC and a second snowstorm on the way

Updates on the wild weather wreaking havoc in the US capital

Traffic Alert: Drivers Stranded On I-95 In Virginia

Heavy snow has wrought havoc on the Washington, DC area, leaving hundreds of drivers stranded on a major roadway in Virginia.

A massive pile-up clogged a 50-mile stretch of Interstate 95 overnight after a crash involving six tractor-trailers on Monday afternoon.

The collision caused no injuries but brought traffic to a standstill along the US East Coast’s main north-south highway, and it became impossible to move as the snow accumulated. Hours passed with hundreds of motorists posting increasingly desperate messages on social media about running out of fuel, food, and water.

Authorities were still struggling to reach the stranded motorists on Tuesday morning amid treacherous freezing road conditions throughout the region.

Some drivers have now been stranded for 24 hours and it is unclear when the roadway will reopen.

Meanwhile, the snow caused headaches in the nation’s capital, briefly trapping President Joe Biden inside Air Force One on Monday and forcing many federal offices to shut.

Key developments so far

• Hundreds stranded on I-95 all night after snow storm
• DC struggling to get to work on Tuesday
• Virginia governor says state working though the night
• Traffic snarled from DC to Richmond
• More snow on the way on Thursday night

[4 January 2022 13:47 · Megan Sheets]

Hundreds stranded on I-95 amid snowstorm

Hundreds of drivers have been stuck on the I-95 highway south of Washington, DC in Virginia for more than 15 hours as the capital region is blanketed by snow and ice.

A part of the Interstate 95 highway lasting around 50 miles has come to a standstill after a crash that included six tractor-trailers, according to authorities.

The Independent’s Gustaf Kilander reports:

[4 January 2022 14:00 · Megan Sheets]

Up to 11 inches of snow strike Virginia

Between 7 to 11 inches of snow accumulated in the area during Monday’s blizzard, according to the National Weather Service, and thousands of accidents and stranded vehicles were reported throughout central and northern Virginia.

As of 3.30pm Monday, Virginia State Police had responded to more than 2,000 calls for service due to treacherous road conditions, The Free Lance-Star in Fredericksburg reported.

Compounding the challenges, traffic cameras went offline as much of central Virginia lost power in the storm, VDOT said. More than 281,000 customers remained without electricity on Tuesday, according to poweroutage.us.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Emily Clementson, a truck driver, told NBC Washington. She urged stuck motorists to ask truck drivers if they have food or water to share, since many carry extra supplies in case they get stranded.

Winter Weather Interstate Shutdown

Associated Press

[4 January 2022 14:21 · Oliver O'Connell]

Senator Tim Kaine among those trapped

Virginia Senator Tim Kaine has tweeted that he is among those trapped in his vehicle.

The former vice-presidential candidate said: I started my normal 2-hour drive to DC at 1pm yesterday. 19 hours later, I’m still not near the Capitol. My office is in touch with @VaDOT to see how we can help other Virginians in this situation. Please stay safe everyone.”

[4 January 2022 14:32 · Oliver O'Connell]

DC struggles to get back to work

Commuters continue to struggle with the aftermath of the snowstorm with more than a foot accumulating in the greater Washington, DC area.

Much of the snow turned to ice overnight, particularly in the south of the urban area and out into the suburbs, creating hazardous travel conditions.

The snow emergency officially ended at 7am, but crews will work through the day to clear roads around key locations such as schools.

DC government will open at 11am with federal agencies opening three hours late to accommodate for unscheduled teleworking, commuting, and absence.

More snow is forecast is scheduled for Thursday.

[4 January 2022 14:36 · Oliver O'Connell]

Governor Northam: Team working throughout night

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam says his team has been working throughout the night to respond to the situation on I-95.

He asks everyone to avoid the interstate.

[4 January 2022 14:48 · Oliver O'Connell]

Interstate 95 remains closed

Some people have been stuck for more than 19 hours. Firefighters handed out blankets and water bottles on Tuesday morning along the 48 mile-long closed portion of the interstate.

“We know many travelers have been stuck on Interstate 95 in our region for extraordinary periods of time over the past 24 hours, in some cases since Monday morning,” VDOT Fredericksburg District Engineer Marcie Parker said in a statement. “This is unprecedented, and we continue to steadily move stopped trucks to make progress toward restoring lanes.”

“In addition to clearing the trucks, we are treating for snow and several inches of ice that has accumulated around them to ensure that when the lanes reopen, motorists can safely proceed to their destination,” Parker said.

[4 January 2022 15:06 · Oliver O'Connell]

Traffic crawling forward northbound on I-95

Susan Phalen, a former state department senior adviser, has tweeted a video of traffic on I-95 crawling forward on the northbound carriageway.

Earlier she posted that people needed medicine, water, food, and toilets, given how long they had been stranded.

[4 January 2022 15:13 · Oliver O'Connell]

Fatal crash in Maryland on Monday

The weather caused a number of crashes across the metro area on Monday, including a fatal accident in Montgomery County, Maryland, that left three people dead after their vehicle hit a snowplow.

[4 January 2022 15:22 · Oliver O'Connell]

More snow on the way on Thursday night

As the Washington metro area cleans up the icy mess left by Monday’s storm, there will be a brief respite from the cold on Wednesday before more snow hits the region on Thursday night into Friday morning.

Freezing rain will move into the area after the evening commute before snow begins to fall through the night into Friday morning.

While the snowfall is not predicted to be as severe as Monday’s storm, it could make commuting unpleasant at the end of the week.

[4 January 2022 15:42 · Oliver O'Connell]

Map of I-95 traffic snarl

The total impacted portion of I-95 was almost 100 miles long, stretching from Washington, DC to Richmond, Virginia.