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Prolonged rainfall shuts down some of state's highways Date published: 11/13/2009
BY KELLY HANNON Across Virginia yesterday, transportation officials reported road closings on five interstates, 24 primary roads and 158 secondary roads, mostly in Hampton Roads and the Danville area. Only a handful of roads were closed in the Fredericksburg area yesterday, but more rain is forecast for today. By yesterday afternoon, flooding had closed four secondary roads in Northumberland County, and three secondary roads in Westmoreland County. Harrell Road, which crosses Claiborne Run in southern Stafford County, was closed as water levels rose. Flooding also closed State Route 602 and State Route 651 in Orange County, and State Route 651 in Louisa County. No closings were reported on Interstate 95 in the Fredericksburg area, although traffic accidents happened throughout the day. State Police responded to more than 100 crashes by midafternoon in just a portion of the Fredericksburg area, from Caroline and King George counties south to Richmond, and east along the Northern Neck. In the Hampton Roads area alone, state police responded to more than 140 crashes yesterday by midafternoon. The Midtown Tunnel and James River Bridge in Hampton Roads were closed, and VDOT suspended Jamestown Scotland ferry service across the James River. Sgt. Thomas Molnar, a State Police spokesman, said the posted speed limit may not be appropriate for road conditions in heavy wind and rain, including the 65 mph limit on I-95. State police advise drivers to slow down and leave additional space between vehicles. "Sixty-five mph, that's for optimal driving conditions. With the rain and the wind, that's not optimal driving conditions," Molnar said. Today, drivers can check the latest road conditions and closings online at 511virginia.org. STATE OF EMERGENCY Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine declared a state of emergency, the Associated Press reported. Officials urged people in some areas to stay home. Rain and resulting floods were predicted to continue at least through today, especially along the state's southeastern coast and in Norfolk, a coastal city of a quarter-million people. About 70 people showed up at three shelters opened for the storm.
Three motorists died in weather-related crashes in central and eastern Virginia, state police said. In North Carolina, an elderly man standing in his yard was killed when a pine tree was snapped by strong winds and fell on him. Meanwhile, Dominion Power was reporting last night that more than 159,000 customers were without electricity in southeast Virginia and part of North Carolina as rain continued to fall.
Kelly Hannon: 540/374-5436
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