I95 Richmond to the Beltway people suck in cars for 17 plus hours

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tim Kaine who lived in St. Paul, Minnesota and Missouri, probably can't believe the DMV doesn't know how to handle a snowstorm.

He has lived here for eons. He knows we cannot handle snowstorms especially while it is still actively heavily snowing

I’m really surprised he left at 1pm in the middle of a snowstorm of a hellish drive. He should know better.

Especially when there is Amtrak between Richmond and Union Station.

[Anonymous]

Note to Gov Northam: consider installing gates on the on ramps onto I-95 from the southern end of Fredericksburg or even Ashland. In a snow emergency, close the on ramps while leaving the off ramps open. Also close the 48 mile stretch sooner than expected.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The cable news station are covering this now. This is the worst part of 95 always backed up. Any surprise with a snowstorm it is shut down? When are they going yo fit it?

I went out Sunday afternoon to fill car with gas and a few groceries because I listened to weather forecast of possible accumulation of 7 inches. So the real question is why were these idiots out on Monday. I can't work up too much sympathy for stupidity!

So many of us have been such on 95 for hours just with a few wrecks and summer traffic. There's nowhere to bail out.

It's lunacy that people were driving in the middle of a snowstorm.

So much this. Even on a good day expecting to make your regular Richmond to DC trip in two hours is, well, unfairly optimistic. Add any weather and you might as well just decide to wait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The cable news station are covering this now. This is the worst part of 95 always backed up. Any surprise with a snowstorm it is shut down? When are they going yo fit it?

I went out Sunday afternoon to fill car with gas and a few groceries because I listened to weather forecast of possible accumulation of 7 inches. So the real question is why were these idiots out on Monday. I can't work up too much sympathy for stupidity!

So many of us have been such on 95 for hours just with a few wrecks and summer traffic. There's nowhere to bail out.

It's lunacy that people were driving in the middle of a snowstorm.

Except there are stories of people who were leaving night shift jobs at hospitals for example, and just trying to drive home

That's unfortunate, but those people might need to make alternate plans in severe weather events. Like staying at work for a few hours until conditions improve. But that's not how it works in this region. Early dismissal and get everyone on the highways as fast as possible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The cable news station are covering this now. This is the worst part of 95 always backed up. Any surprise with a snowstorm it is shut down? When are they going yo fit it?

I went out Sunday afternoon to fill car with gas and a few groceries because I listened to weather forecast of possible accumulation of 7 inches. So the real question is why were these idiots out on Monday. I can't work up too much sympathy for stupidity!

So many of us have been such on 95 for hours just with a few wrecks and summer traffic. There's nowhere to bail out.

It's lunacy that people were driving in the middle of a snowstorm.

Except there are stories of people who were leaving night shift jobs at hospitals for example, and just trying to drive home

There were so many stranded cars and trucks on the highway that it's absurd to think a substantial number of drivers were those leaving essential jobs.

I agree with others that a lot of these drivers didn't need to be on the road and did not plan properly. When you have heavy snow falling and too many people on the road, all it takes is a couple of minor spinouts or accidents for chaos to ensue. Now, I'm not letting the state off the hook; their response and communication during the event was terrible. At the same time, the people who didn't plan wisely deserve some of the blame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why they didn't pre-treat 95/495.

I get that no one believed the snow would stick due to the warm temps, especially so much of it. But I drove on it Sunday night around 8pm, and there was no pre treatment on the highway whatsoever. Nada.

VDOT has stated that they couldn’t pre-treat the roads because this storm started as rain and everything would’ve washed away.

it didn't start as rain where we live

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand why they didn't pre-treat 95/495.

I get that no one believed the snow would stick due to the warm temps, especially so much of it. But I drove on it Sunday night around 8pm, and there was no pre treatment on the highway whatsoever. Nada.

VDOT has stated that they couldn’t pre-treat the roads because this storm started as rain and everything would’ve washed away.

it didn't start as rain where we live

I don't think it started as rain here either but the plan is the plan. Regardless, it was snowing so hard it really wouldn't have mattered much. It only takes one idiot to block a ramp or a road.

[Anonymous]

According to a few stories on Richmond.com, the backups started around 8:30am Monday morning with semi’s either getting stuck or jack knifing, on both sides of 95. I believe initially there was a total of 6 disabled or crashed trucks and then nearby cars either crashed into them, each other or went off the road trying to avoid crashing. And then it rippled from there.

The main issues was that at that point VDOT did NOT close 95 mid morning on Monday which they should have and now admit was a mistake. 95 effectively was shut down, trucks, cars and snow blocked it in both directions; but by not officially shutting down 95 and blocking it off more cars accumulated and you got the 50 mile stretches of epic proportions. VDOT thought at 8:30-9am they could still plow and tow in time, and the snow just went beserk and they couldn’t keep up. By the time VDOT did “close” 95 the situation was out of control.

I think the overwhelming majority of people who got stuck did not start out like Kaine; they probably left early in the morning and thought they could out drive the storm/or they were starting from the south and didn’t think it would be as bad as it was. Even VDOT didn’t think it would be as bad as it was. And these people got stuck very early, like around 8:30-9am and thus started out much earlier. I have no idea how Kaine can be so dumb to leave his houses at 1pm, drive into this mess, get off in Fredericksburg and get BACK ON. WHY?! Given in Richmond it was pretty light (I have family there and we were exchanging pictures of the snow Monday morning), but seriously, WITW is wrong with him?

[Anonymous]

Hope no one was in a Tesla.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hope no one was in a Tesla.

No kidding. As someone on Twitter said, the only reason this was not a mass casualty event is because they were driving gas powered vehicles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hope no one was in a Tesla.

No kidding. As someone on Twitter said, the only reason this was not a mass casualty event is because they were driving gas powered vehicles.

I dunno— EVs usually do very well conserving battery in stop and go, and often have heated seats. I’ve never seen an analysis of how long they could keep a car comfortable in below freezing temps but I wouldn’t assume they are dramatically worse than a gas vehicle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The cable news station are covering this now. This is the worst part of 95 always backed up. Any surprise with a snowstorm it is shut down? When are they going yo fit it?

I went out Sunday afternoon to fill car with gas and a few groceries because I listened to weather forecast of possible accumulation of 7 inches. So the real question is why were these idiots out on Monday. I can't work up too much sympathy for stupidity!

So many of us have been such on 95 for hours just with a few wrecks and summer traffic. There's nowhere to bail out.

It's lunacy that people were driving in the middle of a snowstorm.

Except there are stories of people who were leaving night shift jobs at hospitals for example, and just trying to drive home

There were so many stranded cars and trucks on the highway that it's absurd to think a substantial number of drivers were those leaving essential jobs.

I agree with others that a lot of these drivers didn't need to be on the road and did not plan properly. When you have heavy snow falling and too many people on the road, all it takes is a couple of minor spinouts or accidents for chaos to ensue. Now, I'm not letting the state off the hook; their response and communication during the event was terrible. At the same time, the people who didn't plan wisely deserve some of the blame.

I think there was travel from winter break. A lot of people got stranded after flights being cancelled. Someone on the news was trying to get to a funeral.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tim Kaine who lived in St. Paul, Minnesota and Missouri, probably can't believe the DMV doesn't know how to handle a snowstorm.

He has lived here for eons. He knows we cannot handle snowstorms especially while it is still actively heavily snowing

I’m really surprised he left at 1pm in the middle of a snowstorm of a hellish drive. He should know better.

Especially when there is Amtrak between Richmond and Union Station.

You think Amtrak wasn’t affected by this? Cute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The cable news station are covering this now. This is the worst part of 95 always backed up. Any surprise with a snowstorm it is shut down? When are they going yo fit it?

I went out Sunday afternoon to fill car with gas and a few groceries because I listened to weather forecast of possible accumulation of 7 inches. So the real question is why were these idiots out on Monday. I can't work up too much sympathy for stupidity!

So many of us have been such on 95 for hours just with a few wrecks and summer traffic. There's nowhere to bail out.

It's lunacy that people were driving in the middle of a snowstorm.

Except there are stories of people who were leaving night shift jobs at hospitals for example, and just trying to drive home

There were so many stranded cars and trucks on the highway that it's absurd to think a substantial number of drivers were those leaving essential jobs.

I agree with others that a lot of these drivers didn't need to be on the road and did not plan properly. When you have heavy snow falling and too many people on the road, all it takes is a couple of minor spinouts or accidents for chaos to ensue. Now, I'm not letting the state off the hook; their response and communication during the event was terrible. At the same time, the people who didn't plan wisely deserve some of the blame.

I think there was travel from winter break. A lot of people got stranded after flights being cancelled. Someone on the news was trying to get to a funeral.

+1 We have neighbors in NJ whose kid’s family missed a flight back to Orlando and tried to drive instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tim Kaine who lived in St. Paul, Minnesota and Missouri, probably can't believe the DMV doesn't know how to handle a snowstorm.

He has lived here for eons. He knows we cannot handle snowstorms especially while it is still actively heavily snowing

I’m really surprised he left at 1pm in the middle of a snowstorm of a hellish drive. He should know better.

Especially when there is Amtrak between Richmond and Union Station.

You think Amtrak wasn’t affected by this? Cute.

https://localnews8.com/news/2022/01/05/amtrak-passengers-endured-a-30-hour-delay-in-virginia-after-fallen-trees-blocked-the-track-during-winter-storm-4/

Wouldn't have impacted Richmond to Union Station, but still.