Sen. Tim Kaine: I've been (stranded) on the road for 27 hours

[bigtree]

Tim Kaine @timkaine · 12m
Update: I've been on the road for 27 hours. twitter.com/timkaine/statu…

Tim Kaine @timkaine
I started my normal 2 hour drive to DC at 1pm yesterday. 19 hours later, I’m still not near the Capitol. My office is in touch with @VaDOT to see how we can help other Virginians in this situation. Please stay safe everyone.
8:27 AM · Jan 4, 2022

Link to tweet

https://apnews.com/article/snow-storm-weather-195-virginia-660346cff578c655186ac517fb45f17f

[BlueTsunami2018]

1. How does this even happen?

What an embarrassment to the state and the country. It’s just snow. Pre salt the roads and get the plows out. This is unreal to me.

[arlyellowdog]

11. They couldn't pre salt the roads because it was pouring rain

[Kingofalldems]

2. I-95 is a nightmare anyway.

The snow compounded it by tenfold.

[CurtEastPoint]

5. What makes it so bad or different from other interstates?

[arlyellowdog]

12. It snowed 5 inches an hour in Fredericksburg

The problem was the forecasters wanted I 95 closed but it was just raining. Most of the time it does stay rain. When it turned to snow, it dumped. Then there was a bad accident.

[Kingofalldems]

14. From Richmond to DC traffic is always bad.

[littlemissmartypants]

29. It's horrendous at times.

Believe it or not, I used to keep a book with me to read while "driving" because the traffic could be at more of a standstill than moving. Trips that should have been 30 minutes would often be closer to three hours and I wasn't the only one reading.

I did love it though, living in Georgetown and working in D.C. Worst traffic out of all the places I lived, yet my second favorite after Puerto Rico, even with the terrible traffic. ❤

[Kingofalldems]

34. Georgetown is great.

If I could afford it I would live there.

[Tommymac]

38. I lived in the area for a good part of my life. I've driven that stretch of I95 since the 1970's.

It has always been murderous. 24/7/365 traffic, including many many tractor- trailers is very heavy, problem is that it is heavy and no one goes under 75. Rush hour driving can be like playing Russian roulette in good weather. Too many inexperienced highway drivers use the road due to the population density in the Eastern Megalopolis, unlike the LA freeways for example where most drivers are used to the traffic flow.

Poorly designed road that is always 10 years behind the curve even as they widen it and try to accommodate the increased traffic flow.

The bridges over the many rivers in that part of Virginia freeze quickly and the road becomes a sheet of ice. Can't treat it properly because of the amount of traffic; this time the rain turned to snow and local authorities did not react in time to prevent the stoppage.

They don't get enough snow in the winter to justify the cost of maintaining huge fleets of public snow removal equipment. They rely on independent contractors.

I've driven LA freeways, SF freeways, NY/NJ freeways, PA freeways, all are bad - and IMHO I95 is the worst, a veritable death race.

We use I85 or other alternate routes whenever possible to avoid I95 north of Richmond and south of Boston.

[Jim__]

3. That view out his windshield is one of the most frustrating views I know of.

You can't tell what's going on - the view just doesn't change.

[Beachnutt]

4. Joe Manchin must be on the

traffic review board....

[malaise]

6. He should have checked in with DU

We had warnings

[vanlassie]

7. Umm. What if they need a loo?

[Beachnutt]

10. How do you not go to the bathroom

for 20 hours ?
#2

[3catwoman3]

16. See my post #15.

I can’t even imagine.

[AZLD4Candidate]

17. Constipation?

[Submariner]

33. GMA this morning interviewed a woman

stranded in her car the past ten hours, and at the end of the interview, that ABC probably wished they cut, she said people were out in cars around her in 16 degree cold crouched behind the car door with a relative blocking view while they did #2 in the snow.

[Skittles]

39. sounds reasonable

you do what you have to do

[blueinredohio]

18. I know I would be peeing beside my car.

If someone wanted to look they could just look. I've used the mens bathroom before because the ladies was busy for so long.

[zaj]

8. What's happening here?

[GB_RN]

9. People Are Snowed In..

On I-95 in VA.

[MissB]

13. Just east of Portland is a city called Troutdale

It’s maybe 10 miles or so east of the edge of Portland. I-84 has been closed there since Sunday night, because it’s snowed in. It’s been closed to The Dalles and then again from Pendleton (eastern Oregon) to the Idaho border. SR-14, on the Washington side of the gorge, has also been closed.

Two of the ski areas on Mt. Hood have been closed…because of too much snow.

It hit hard and fast and just didn’t let up. Portland got a ton of rain but no snow in this event. NWS gave a small heads up but I don’t think they were expecting this one to wallop with so much snow.

So yeah, it can happen and happen fast.

I’m hoping that Sen Kaine can get to DC soon. That’s a long time to be sitting on the road.

[3catwoman3]

15. What a hygienic nightmare!

Were I stuck in traffic for any length of time, regardless of weather or time of year, the very first thing that would be sure to happen would be needing to pee. As all the females here would know, female “plumbing” presents certain logistical challenges without access to the usual facilities.

[panader0]

19. Open front door and back door and squat in between. Modesty be damned.

Imagine those people stuck in the tram in Albuquerque. 12hours and about 30 people on the tram suspended
many hundreds of feet above the ground.

[Skittles]

40. still

men would marvel at our ability to stop a stream mid-pee

[appleannie1]

20. Also, the Governor of Virginia decided not to call out the National Guard to help get things moving

or pass out food and water.

[Historic NY]

21. Welcome to Virginia Gov. Youngkin enjoy your travels..

[bigtree]

22. made it

John Bresnahan @bresreports
@timkaine finally made it to the Senate after nearly 27 hours stuck on I-95 & other roads in snow

Link to tweet

[JohnnyRingo]

32. I'll bet Grub Hub is making the runs now.

They would be if I was in traffic that long.

[Rebl2]

23. Why has the

National guard not been called out to help. They help after hurricanes and tornadoes sometimes. Why not in this situation?

[Shrek]

26. Northam is still governor

Youngkin isn't inaugurated until January 15.

[Sogo]

28. OK, so I deleted my post....

.

[Rebl2]

27. Ya think!

What a sick man for not helping his constituents and those that had the misfortune to be in this state when this storm hit. I’m guessing there will be backlash for his inaction or at least I hope there will be.

[bottomofthehill]

25. Jesus, Ted Cruz got to Cancun and back in that amount of time.

What are the Democrats doing wrong.

Thanks Obama.

Sarcasm thingy added on the O’bama comment but the Cancun Cruz part remains.

[elleng]

30. AWFUL!

My son in law was stuck for 2+ hours on his way to/from work in P.G. County MD yesterday; fortunately better situation for him today.

[JohnnyRingo]

31. Stranding a sitting US senator is a sure way to get things done.

Depending on how long he's "sitting", something will be done about it ASAP.

[Pinback]

35. Those conspiracy theory families are the best!

Oh, wait...

[appalachiablue]

36. *Full Report: 9 hrs ago. Hundreds Stranded on I-95 in VA More Than 15 Hrs, Running Out of Fuel, Food

- 'Hundreds stranded on I-95 in Va. for more than 15 hours, and they're running out of fuel, food, and water in frigid conditions.' Insider, 10 hrs ago, Jan. 3, '22. (*Out late last nite & busy, I didn't see all the coverage until later today. Good for Sen.Tim Kaine. I've driven that stretch for decades).
___
Hundreds of drivers on I-95 in northern Virginia have been stuck for more than 15 hours in the snow.
Motorists told Insider they're running out of fuel for heating and had no food or water.
Officials are trying to clear the roads.

As of Tuesday morning local time, drivers in northern Virginia had been stuck for more than 15 hours on Interstate 95 after a crash involving six tractor-trailers and some downed trees ground traffic to a halt.

Both northbound and southbound lanes of 1-95 were blocked near Fredericksburg, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. Many of those locked in the standstill said they're running out of fuel for heating and were without food or water...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/hundreds-stranded-on-i-95-in-virginia-for-more-than-15-hours-and-they-re-running-out-of-fuel-food-and-water-in-frigid-conditions/ar-AASpLnq

[allegorical oracle]

37. Kaine strikes me as the real deal --

had so many liberal friends bemoaning his choice by Hillary to be her Veep. But he's a sharp guy with a ton of ethics.

[The Conductor]

41. He Shoulda...

Should have followed Joe Biden's example and taken Amtrak. Yes, Amtrak trains have been stuck by the weather, too. But they get stopped at sidings by stations, most often, a place where you can get out and walk around (check with train personnel before going too far, to get the game plan, though). You are in a heated train without the engine spewing carbon monoxide just feet from where you sleep, on a train staffed with professionals to watch over you. In a wide and comfortable recliner, even in coach. With working bathrooms and a cafe or full diner car just a short distance down the train. And the ability to walk the length of the train for exercise to keep from stiffening up.

There's being stuck sleeping in a car having to pee out the door, and being stuck where the staff apologizes if they run out of what you ordered for breakfast...