Many Virginia drivers had a rough commute Wednesday morning.
A tractor-trailer hauling scrap metal overturned on the Interstate 66 eastbound ramp to Interstate 495 northbound about 3:45 a.m. Wednesday, Virginia State Police said. The metal debris spilled onto the I-66 ramp and to the roadway below — an I-495 northbound ramp to I-66.
A tractor-trailer on that ramp hit the debris, damaging its fuel tanks and spilling fuel, police said.
"Friends, if you’re anywhere near 66/495 (incl 29/50) it’s going to be a long AM," officials said in a tweet.
The closures included the ramp from I-66 eastbound to I-495 northbound, and the ramps from I-495 to I-66 eastbound and westbound.
Traffic cameras showed a long backup. Officials advised drivers to avoid the area.
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The ramp from the Beltway to I-66 had reopened by 8:20 a.m.
No injuries were reported.
The Virginia Department of Transportation warns drivers to be extra careful as they pass through the interchange of I-66 and the Beltway for the next couple of years as it will change almost daily because of express lane work.
“People need to be looking for lane shifts, new traffic patterns on all of the major interchanges throughout our work zone on 66,” said Michelle Holland of VDOT. “So there will be changes, and people just need to slow down and know that this work is going on.”
The work is not expected to be completed until late 2022.
Stay with News4 for more details on this developing story.
