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VDOT says timing of Friday’s storm caused problems

Posted at 6:29 PM, Jan 28, 2013
and last updated 2013-01-28 18:29:34-05

VDOT says the timing of Friday's snow storm during the evening commute caused some problems for their crews.

Lauren Hansen with VDOT Public Affairs says crews pre-treated roads by 10 Friday morning but when they went to treat trouble spots again once the snow started falling, some of the crews got stuck in traffic congestion.

"That a was a real problem for us to try and get back to get to the areas of most concern to retreat them over and over again during the rush hour," Hansen said.

On I-464, some drivers reported being stuck for hours after multiple accidents there snarled traffic for miles.

"As soon as one accident happens it can create miles of congestion for hours and that`s really what we saw on I-464 - one accident contributed to a multitude of accidents," Hansen explained.

Hansen said the main problem VDOT encountered Friday was the storm hitting during the already busy rush hour commute.

"We had 370 pieces of equipment out on the roads throughout the region so we were adequately staffed - that wasn`t the problem," Hansen stated. "It was really just really the timing and the magnitude of cars on the roadway."