Virginia I-95 shut down: snow

[Jersey mike]

https://www.newsmax.com/us/winter-weather-interstate-shutdown/2022/01/04/id/1050899/

I hope all of any of our members and their families are not involved with this situation and everyone is safely home.


I meant to post this on the main page if moderator would do that.

Sorry for the inconvenience.

[Jess from VA]

I-95 north and south (but south is worse) out of No VA is always bad and subject to long stops, stops and goes, and big tie-ups.  I've been stuck out there so many times I never use it, except for after rush hours, and after checking for tie-ups on the web right before I leave.  And this is still no guarantee you won't sit out there for hours. 

I once spent so long sitting on my bike in the sun on 95 S, that I rode through a 3-foot hole in the fence over into the fast northbound lane (which was doing 80).  That'll get your blood flowing.

[scooperhsd]

When it was especially bad , I usually tried to shift over to US1

[0leman]

Hopefully no one is driving a EV in that pile up.  Saw this morning on the news.  Looks cold, icy conditions.

[..]

I-95 north and south (but south is worse) out of No VA is always bad and subject to long stops, stops and goes, and big tie-ups.  I've been stuck out there so many times I never use it, except for after rush hours, and after checking for tie-ups on the web right before I leave.  And this is still no guarantee you won't sit out there for hours. 

I once spent so long sitting on my bike in the sun on 95 S, that I rode through a 3-foot hole in the fence over into the fast northbound lane (which was doing 80).  That'll get your blood flowing.

Engage warp drive!

[Jersey mike]

Hopefully no one is driving a EV in that pile up.  Saw this morning on the news.  Looks cold, icy conditions.

I can only imagine on how decide between freezing and keeping the car warm with an electric vehicle, not to mention a blistering hot day and needing A/C.

It’s not like anyone can bring a 5 gallon can of electricity when you run out.

I can’t wait for electric snowplows and salt spreaders. Now that will be interesting.

[Jess from VA]

I-95 north and south (but south is worse) out of No VA is always bad and subject to long stops, stops and goes, and big tie-ups.  I've been stuck out there so many times I never use it, except for after rush hours, and after checking for tie-ups on the web right before I leave.  And this is still no guarantee you won't sit out there for hours.  

I once spent so long sitting on my bike in the sun on 95 S, that I rode through a 3-foot hole in the fence over into the fast northbound lane (which was doing 80).  That'll get your blood flowing.

Engage warp drive!

You bet your bippy I did.    

The harder part was actually slowing down from an already slow stop and go roll, while standing on the floorboards looking over the fence for an opening in the outer northbound traffic flow (at 80), so I could time it to hit that opening with a chance to engage warpdrive before getting smashed.  (and looking for cops in all directions) (you only get one chance at that hole in the fence, and had to go straight through it, then do a hard 90* and nail it.)

I did, and didn't even get a horn.  

The guy in the car behind me's eyes got real wide when he figured out what I was going to do.  

Hey Doris, watch this guy on that bike get killed.  

[Beardo]

Jess…we call that any Tuesday from November to April.

Just kidding…I know the infrastructure, vehicles, drivers and tires down there aren’t made for this. Not trying to be smug.  Ok, maybe a little. Lol

[old2soon]

         While I was visiting daprez and Bon Bon someone decided they needed to dump 5" or 6" of snow on us! BUT by the time I punched her South and West the roads were in good shape-read dry and dusty. Ran Completely out of the snow just a bit South of Bloomington Il!  $8 later the salt crust got washed of the Pancho today!  I have beer meat eggs and bacon and coffe-let it snow if it must!  RIDE SAFE.

[..]

Shouldn't some of the drivers have known the weather was coming?

[Jess from VA]

Shouldn't some of the drivers have known the weather was coming?

They all should have known it was coming.

First, it's always bad on 95 up here, no exceptions, and every day.  Worse on all holidays.

Second, any idiot traveling interstates in winter better watch the weather and plan accordingly.  

The fact your vacation time runs out is no excuse for driving up 95 into a well publicized major snow storm (as far as the eye could see).

Stay home.

Not that getting stuck for 2 days ever seems reasonable.

And not that better warning messages shouldn't have been put on those fancy programmable led signs on the freeway.


However, I once got off I-81N ahead of a major pileup, only to follow 10,000 cars (doing the same thing) through two lane hills and dales, and one-horse towns for the next 3-4 hours.  All 10,000 backed up for one stoplight in each little town.  

[Willow]

Shouldn't some of the drivers have known the weather was coming?

They all should have known it was coming.

First, it's always bad on 95 up here, no exceptions, and every day.  Worse on all holidays.

Second, any idiot traveling interstates in winter better watch the weather and plan accordingly.  

The fact your vacation time runs out is no excuse for driving up 95 into a well publicized major snow storm.

Not that getting stuck for 2 days ever seems reasonable.
...  

If you're speaking only of the cages coming back from vacation that may almost make sense.  Truck drivers, however, do not get paid to stay put deciding that the route they are sent on is not practical.  They do have the fuel necessary to stay warm during the delay.

[..]

Shouldn't some of the drivers have known the weather was coming?

Maybe they did and weren't on the road.

Deep thinker me.

[Jersey mike]

Shouldn't some of the drivers have known the weather was coming?

They all should have known it was coming.

First, it's always bad on 95 up here, no exceptions, and every day.  Worse on all holidays.

Second, any idiot traveling interstates in winter better watch the weather and plan accordingly.  

The fact your vacation time runs out is no excuse for driving up 95 into a well publicized major snow storm (as far as the eye could see).

Stay home.

Not that getting stuck for 2 days ever seems reasonable.

And not that better warning messages shouldn't have been put on those fancy programmable led signs on the freeway.


However, I once got off I-81N ahead of a major pileup, only to follow 10,000 cars (doing the same thing) through two lane hills and dales, and one-horse towns for the next 3-4 hours.  All 10,000 backed up for one stoplight in each little town.  

Back around ‘94-‘95 my wife and I were considering moving to the Chester, Va area and I was living and working there while our house was on the market here in NJ. I was living with my brother-in-law and his 2 friends, there was a snowstorm several inches, and us being from NJ were laughing how many people including the police (saw several cruisers off the road and in culverts) could not drive in the snow. We joked about if there was ever a time to rob a bank, this would be our chance.

Driving in snow is an experience and it takes practice. I’ve driven in white out conditions (day and night) and it was hairy but possible. One must know when it’s time to get off the road though.

[Jess from VA]

Shouldn't some of the drivers have known the weather was coming?

They all should have known it was coming.

First, it's always bad on 95 up here, no exceptions, and every day.  Worse on all holidays.

Second, any idiot traveling interstates in winter better watch the weather and plan accordingly.  

The fact your vacation time runs out is no excuse for driving up 95 into a well publicized major snow storm.

Not that getting stuck for 2 days ever seems reasonable.
...  

If you're speaking only of the cages coming back from vacation that may almost make sense.  Truck drivers, however, do not get paid to stay put deciding that the route they are sent on is not practical.  They do have the fuel necessary to stay warm during the delay.

It was mostly travelers.  But 95 is always full of trucks too.

I am not a trucker, but if they are told they will spend the next 24 hours sitting on the freeway,  they will make alternate plans like anyone else. 

But I guess no state official could post up a notice to either get off 95 or spend the next day or two camping out on it. 

Sometimes, you almost make sense too. 

[cookiedough]

does that area have snowplows out and salting? 

guess not?

worst case I have been in was early 90's had about 18 inches of snow overnight driving to college 35 miles one way from home age 19 or so in a 1978 old buick skylark rear wheel drive so-so tires.  I made it there bucking snow bottoming out 100's of times roads not really plowed much that early in the day I think plow was out once in each direction is all but spinning wheels on rural country roads near white out conditions top speed was 35 mph all the way there.  On way home, was better roads plowed until doing about 45 mph tops but did not see the 3-4 foot snowplow drift in middle of the 2 lanes going same direction and hit it head on with the car spinning 2x's 360 degrees.  That crapped my pants doing spinouts at that speed just luckily no one around me and a big POOF of snow hit my windshield never knew where I was going to stop totally blinded by snow.  Luckily back then the car was all metal front end no damage unlike today's cars would've totalled the front end for sure.  I did not have brakes much at all after that the 20 more miles home though kept pumping the brakes to dry them out.

Point being,  you can make it thru 10-20 inch snowfalls with ground clearance being the key just gotta keep the speed a going just enough to not get stuck, unless on ice then you are toast.   It helps though with NO ONE around you or coming at you since others always go out of their own lanes since cannot see very well or judge distances between cars very well.

[carolinarider09]

I know its not the same thing but when I was sent to Bremerton, WA to join the crew of the USS Patrick Henry, my wife and I drove our one year old Ford Maverick from her mother's house in Farimont MN.

It was January, 1971.  we travel the straight route there and when we got to Idaho (Oh I forgot about us hiding behind the 18 wheeler to see where we were going in MN to get to her mother's house) the road was covered with snow.  Not snowing but there were no lines, no edges, nothing just a wide sort of flat place to travel with some trees on the sides.   

So we did.  We did not meet another car that I remember.   And I cannot tell you where we spent the night but I can tell you that when I tried to pull into the motel parking spot, the front wheels would only turn just a little.  Total ice under the wheel wells. 

Ok, I was born and raised in SC so snow is something we did not see often. 

[Jess from VA]

A hobby we used to do in MI winters was run out and grab a car rear bumper and ski along on our boots (until we fell).     Our moms were not amused.

I bet you never saw that in SC.   

[carolinarider09]

Never,  never ever. 

Did get to ride my future wife's brothers snowmobile in MN just before we got married.  This is me....

[Jess from VA]

My story on snowmobiles:  

I'd been riding motorcycles for years, and it seemed they were just like motorcycles on snow.

One big difference however is that they don't have any brakes and don't slow down at all on ice.

My first ride, I'm cranking along at top speed up to a T intersection on an icy road.

I let off the throttle, don't slow down at all, run the stop sign, and miraculously go right between busy car cross traffic, right across the road, and then plow down a steep slope into the woods.    

I probably should have read the manual first.  

30 years later, on my first ride, I rammed my buddy's big Chris Craft with his jet ski.   They don't have brakes either.

[Jess from VA]

OK, well that was my only time ever on a snowmobile, it's a bit fuzzy in my memory.

And the track is ridged, so in snow it digs in.  But on a sheet of ice, they don't stop for crap.

Course cars and trucks don't stop great on ice either.  

I had been riding on a snowy roads, but near the intersection it became pure ice.  

[POPS 57]

Never,  never ever. 

Did get to ride my future wife's brothers snowmobile in MN just before we got married.  This is me....

  Looks like your riding a Rupp snowmobile. I like my snowmobiles. Right now i have ten in the pole shed. I buy fix and even sell some. Over the years there's been around one hundred or so.

[Rams]

This whole mess reminds me of how vulnerable we are to the road system.

Want to disrupt a society, destroy the key bridges and overpasses.   It's been a military tactic since bridges were first built.

We're not the only country but, we are just as susceptible (if not more) than most other nations.

Rams

[scooperhsd]

Agreed. On ice you can do some amazing things on a frozen lake. You can do a Nancy Kerrigan Triple Lutz at 65 mph. I haven’t rode in a long time. We used to weld carbide skags on to the ski runners.

I'll bet THAT was a terrifying experiance

[carolinarider09]

Better picture of the snowmobile.  I think I only rode it once or twice but did buy gas for my future wife's brothers to ride it more than usual while I was there and we were getting ready for the wedding.   

[POPS 57]

Better picture of the snowmobile.  I think I only rode it once or twice but did buy gas for my future wife's brothers to ride it more than usual while I was there and we were getting ready for the wedding.    

Now that i see more of the sled. It looks to be around a 68 Herders

[Jess from VA]

I think I only rode it once or twice but did buy gas

This has been my MO for many years.  Borrowed trucks or equipment, going out on beautiful big boats (with twin 454s), ski boats, loaned snowmobiles, yada.  I always spring for as much gas as anyone needs, because I want to burn it myself when others let me use or enjoy their motor equipment.

I kept washing my buddy's old beat up half ton (and returned it with a full tank every time), even though he said it never got washed and forget it.  Next time I needed to use it, it was always available.  And I got invited out on the twin 454s again.  And it's only fair anyway.  

---------------------

On another issue with this big storm, I had a row of eight 15yo Leland Cypress (5 foot when planted) at the foot of my side yard (corner lot) get so much wet snow, all but two of them went over and ripped out their root balls, and lay down entirely blocking the sidewalk and out into the street.

This happened to several about 10 years ago in a heavy wet snow, and I was able to right them with a cobbled bloc and tackle, and redig the roots, and saved them (alone).  I even tied back the most likely to go over again, but only two tie backs held in this snow.  

I took one look at them now, twice their size and packed with ice, and decided I cannot right and redig them again without power equipment and (young strong back) help.  And I can't leave them over the sidewalk and street.  So I went out there with a bow saw and loppers and cut all but two of them up in a huge pile (stumps remain), and will call to have it all picked up.  It kind of sucks to pay $60 each, rototill a bed, dig eight holes, and nurture and trim them for 15 years, then have to go out and chop them up and throw them away. 

One day with a snow shovel (Toro blower fritzed out, but it would not do the wet and icy job anyway), and one day with a hand saw clearing trees from my public sidewalk, and this is as hard as I've worked in a long time.  I am sore and whipped (and cold).  And the bottom of my yard will look like sh!t when this all clears off.

Snapped the top out of one of my old VA red cedars too.  It's too tall to get to, so it will fall off when it wants to.  Probably when I'm standing under it.

And now I'm hoping all the snow and ice on my roof doesn't tear my gutters off.

The joys of home ownership.

Lelands do this all the time.  


If I plant anything at all to replace them, it's going to be a row of 4X4 posts (painted green).  

[hubcapsc]

We joked about if there was ever a time to rob a bank, this would be our chance.

I live in South Carolina. I remember how much fun it was to drive my
rented Geo Metro over a couple of mountain passes in Colorado when
we went to Crested Butte once. Snow seemed fun. We get some snow,
mostly icky ice storms. People joke about us heading to the store for
bread and milk to fend off the two inches of accumulation, but nobody
can drive good on ice...

-Mike

[Jersey mike]

I think I only rode it once or twice but did buy gas

This has been my MO for many years.  Borrowed trucks or equipment, going out on beautiful big boats (with twin 454s), ski boats, loaned snowmobiles, yada.  I always spring for as much gas as anyone needs, because I want to burn it myself when others let me use or enjoy their motor equipment.

I kept washing my buddy's old beat up half ton (and returned it with a full tank every time), even though he said it never got washed and forget it.  Next time I needed to use it, it was always available.  And I got invited out on the twin 454s again.  And it's only fair anyway.  

---------------------

On another issue with this big storm, I had a row of eight 15yo Leland Cypress (5 foot when planted) at the foot of my side yard (corner lot) get so much wet snow, all but two of them went over and ripped out their root balls, and lay down entirely blocking the sidewalk and out into the street.

This happened to several about 10 years ago in a heavy wet snow, and I was able to right them with a cobbled bloc and tackle, and redig the roots, and saved them (alone).  I even tied back the most likely to go over again, but only two tie backs held in this snow.  

I took one look at them now, twice their size and packed with ice, and decided I cannot right and redig them again without power equipment and (young strong back) help.  And I can't leave them over the sidewalk and street.  So I went out there with a bow saw and loppers and cut all but two of them up in a huge pile (stumps remain), and will call to have it all picked up.

One day with a snow shovel (Toro blower fritzed out, but it would not do the wet and icy job anyway), and one day with a saw clearing trees from my public sidewalk, and this is as hard as I've worked in a long time.  I am sore and whipped (and cold).  And the bottom of my yard will look like sh!t when this all clears off.

Snapped the top out of one of my old VA red cedars too.  It's too tall to get to, so it will fall off when it wants to.  Probably when I'm standing under it.

And now I'm hoping all the snow and ice on my roof doesn't tear my gutters off.

The joys of home ownership.

Lelands do this all the time.  


If I plant anything at all to replace them, it's going to be a row of 4X4 posts (painted green).  

Whenever I’ve borrowed something it was returned in better shape than when I got it. If I borrowed a car, returned washed and full tank. Seldom did I borrow tools but if I did, they were cleaned, like sockets or wrenches, a shop vac had the filter cleaned and blown out and the container was cleaned out. One time I did need a steel rake which the head pulled off the the handle so I bought a new rake to return to the owner.

[Jersey mike]

Here’s a little explanation from VA.

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/winter-weather-i-95-virginia-interstate-shutdown/2022/01/05/id/1051086/

article says raining, too wet and a jackknifed tractor caused traffic issues.

Ok I can see where the jackknife would be an issue but rain and too wet? Living in the Northeast I’ve been out and seen trucks in the rain spreading salt before a snow. Unless VA only utilizes brine on their roads it’s hard to understand the issue.

[Rams]

Here’s a little explanation from VA.

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/winter-weather-i-95-virginia-interstate-shutdown/2022/01/05/id/1051086/

article says raining, too wet and a jackknifed tractor caused traffic issues.

Ok I can see where the jackknife would be an issue but rain and too wet? Living in the Northeast I’ve been out and seen trucks in the rain spreading salt before a snow. Unless VA only utilizes brine on their roads it’s hard to understand the issue.

Brine will wash off the road in a heavy rain.  So, I'd say it was a judgement call by the DOT.   The trucker that jackknifed also made a bad judgement call. 

Rams

[Jess from VA]

There is such a thing as....................... sh!t happens. 

And I can't be sure, but it seems to be happening more than usual lately. 

[cookiedough]

There is such a thing as....................... sh!t happens. 

And I can't be sure, but it seems to be happening more than usual lately. 

that sucks on your trees being ripped to shreds by the heavy snow/ice/cold/winds.   I cringe everytime I get over 40 mph winds at my house for I have a HUGE burr oak tree probably over 150 years old.  I spend 30 minutes picking up smaller limbs/branches/sticks that come down (at least 1/2 a 32 gallon trash can) after every high wind storm.  It is dying though being struck by lightning about 15 years ago splitting (or should I say burning off) the bark near 2 feet wide at the base with the top branch that got zapped 1st totally dead way up on top unable to get to.  Every year more and more bigger limbs come down and worries me a tad for if it ever comes fully down, it will destroy at least 1/4th of our house or come down on us if ever outside.  I cut down 2-3 bigger dead limbs on an extension ladder with a long pole saw 12 years or so ago and that was dangerous enough one limb crashing down only 2-3 feet behind me on the ladder luckily not hitting me some 15-20 feet in the air on the ladder.

Cost to cut it down range from 3-5K and the one of few tree cutting places nearby suggested to spend 500 bucks on them cable tying the two trunks together but not so sure that would work either with the chains cutting into the tree bark 1/3rd of the way up destroying the tree even worse.  So, some 12+ years later I have let it go.  Tree cutting places want the money, but who knows,  the tree could outlive me another 20-30 years?  The shade from the tree is GREAT in HOT summer, no tree could replace it and is nice to have around IMO the best lot on our street due to that nice big burr oak shade tree.

[Jess from VA]

Cookie, the way to save money with a huge (single) tree problem, short of paying full price to remove it, is to pay a good tree service to prune the hell out of the top of it (like the whole top half of the tree), and take off any limbs over the house.  Not cheap, but way cheaper than the full removal.

It almost never kills it, and if it does, you have years before you have to do anything again. 

I have 6 100yo (or so) oaks (white and red) that have been majorly trimmed 3 times, but not for 15 years.  It's great having a big limb hit the roof in the middle of the night and think I have intruders in the house.  All of them are very healthy, but the fall cleanup is getting really old (just like me).

[old2soon]

        From a Former Truckers perspective. I have driven in ALL the lower 48 2 Canadian Provinces Old Mexico and Hawaii and Alaska. Heartland Express issued shut down ORDERS when I drove for them. At Heartland you Choose to ignore the Shutdown ORDERS And ANYTHING happens The Driver was responsible for the Truck Trailer and The Load. Far as a jack knife goes with out being in the cab when it happened I am NOT aware of the many Variables that led to the jack knife. Too fast for conditions? Did a cage cut the 18 wheeler off? Inexperienced driver? Bad tires? And I have sat on an Interstate a time or three in my Driving Career. In the Winter I ALWAYS had snacks drinks-NON ALCOHOL-water and I NEVER poured out old cold coffee unless I was replacing it in a resturant. And in the winter in my truck fuel was NEVER allowed to go below a half tank-100 200 gallons depending. Montana Colrado The Dakotas Northern California Oregon Washington even places in The Midwest and East Coast in the Winter MAY without Warning turn into a SURVIVAL SITUATION! And in case Anyone is wondering-in all my years out there I NEVER ONCE hung iron-A K A CHAINS. C Y A when the roads a bridges git snotty. RIDE SAFE.

[F6Dave]

Hopefully no one is driving a EV in that pile up.  Saw this morning on the news.  Looks cold, icy conditions.

Just imagine if they were all EVs! Battery powered vehicles aren't known for keeping their occupants very warm, so it could have been uncomfortable. Maybe EV owners keep extra clothing in the trunk.

And if they were all EVs, some may have depleted their batteries enough to need a recharge. With an ICE powered vehicle you can call for roadside assistance and they'll bring some gas. For EVs will they show up with a diesel generator? Imagine giving hundreds of EVs a 30 minute charge from a mobile charger -- that could take a while! This energy transition should be lots of fun.

[Jess from VA]

More snow last night.   

[carolinarider09]

Just imagine if they were all EVs! Battery powered vehicles aren't known for keeping their occupants very warm, so it could have been uncomfortable. Maybe EV owners keep extra clothing in the trunk.

And if they were all EVs, some may have depleted their batteries enough to need a recharge. With an ICE powered vehicle you can call for roadside assistance and they'll bring some gas. For EVs will they show up with a diesel generator? Imagine giving hundreds of EVs a 30 minute charge from a mobile charger -- that could take a while! This energy transition should be lots of fun.

Something that folks never ever think about when they are buying that cool non-polluting vehicle (charged from the grid which is mostly fossil fuel powered but they are not well schooled). 

[old2soon]

Just imagine if they were all EVs! Battery powered vehicles aren't known for keeping their occupants very warm, so it could have been uncomfortable. Maybe EV owners keep extra clothing in the trunk.

And if they were all EVs, some may have depleted their batteries enough to need a recharge. With an ICE powered vehicle you can call for roadside assistance and they'll bring some gas. For EVs will they show up with a diesel generator? Imagine giving hundreds of EVs a 30 minute charge from a mobile charger -- that could take a while! This energy transition should be lots of fun.

Something that folks never ever think about when they are buying that cool non-polluting vehicle (charged from the grid which is mostly fossil fuel powered but they are not well schooled). 

          how Quick "they" CHOOSE to fergit. Feb 2021 the frozen wind turbines in The Repulic of Texas. Yeah-really  gonna count on "them" to solve  our energy problemo. RIDE SAFE.

[F6Dave]

Here's an outstanding video about the 'traffic jam' in Virginia:

https://youtu.be/Vt_zQIS8rSE

Don't miss the photos of solar farms at 6:18 - 6:31. One of these was recently cancelled in Virginia after residents learned it would require 400 acres of forest to be clear cut.