The delays are in the northbound lanes of I-95, the cars crashed at VA-610. The crash has been moved out of the way, but cars continue to slowly pass in the left lane.

“What a mess on NB I-95 in VA. Take a look… a 7-mile backup in one section and then more delays north of that,” News4 Traffic Reporter Melissa Mollet tweeted.

Further down the road, there is a second accident with multiple vehicles on I-95 near Prince William Parkway in Woodbridge. Cars continue to pass the accident slowly in the right lane. It appears the crash has cleared.

The roads Thursday morning were slick from rain, according to the Storm Team4 Forecast.

Mollet recommends commuters plan ahead.

“Overall, everything else is looking okay, but it is wet and messy out there this morning,” Mollet said.

Details of either crash were not immediately released.

This is a developing story. Stay with News4 for more updates.

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A portion of Interstate 95 may be closed for an extended time after a tanker truck fire early Sunday caused a portion of the highway to collapse. One person was found dead in the rubble, officials said Monday afternoon.

”We’re looking at many months, but who knows for sure. So, plan for this portion of the roadway to be closed in both directions,” said Jana Tidwell with AAA.

She encouraged travelers to take Amtrak or any mode of transportation that will avoid the area.

More than 150,000 vehicles per day use this stretch of I-95.

What are some alternatives to I-95 in Philadelphia?

The fire and collapse occurred near Cottman Avenue, in Northeast Philadelphia. Before you would reach that spot when headed north, there are a number of options to get you to New Jersey and toward New York City or New England.

The Delaware Memorial Bridge, Commodore Barry Bridge, Walt Whitman Bridge and Ben Franklin Bridge all are options.

Maryland transportation officials said they are monitoring the situation and will keep sharing messages about the progress of repairs on digital signs along I-95.

Our friends at NBC Philadelphia have some travel suggestions too.

What do we know about the mechanics of the collapse?

There are federal rules on how often these types of trucks must be inspected and even where they are supposed to park and for how long. A truck carrying the type of fuel the truck was carrying is not supposed to stay parked, in most cases, for a long time. The heat that kind of truck fire would generate is almost hard to imagine.

”Steel loses approximately half of its strength when it gets to a temperature of 600 degrees Celsius, and this is the type of temperature in the steel members that can be expected if there is a tanker truck fire directly underneath the structure,” said Thomas Gernay, an assistant professor with the civil engineering department at John Hopkins University.

The emergency could prompt a discussion about better protecting high-volume bridges and overpasses — though what happened has been called a perfect storm of events.

The truck was on a connector ramp from southbound Interstate 805 to eastbound State Route 52 just before 1 p.m. when it flipped on its side along the curve, according to CHP. As it overturned, a pallet of cement bags spilled out from the bed and over the wall of the ramp, falling down onto ground-level lanes of SR-52.

The bags fell on top of a black Mercedes SUV, killing the woman in her 70s in the passenger seat, CHP said. The driver of the SUV was not hurt.

SkyRanger 7 flew over the scene of the crash and spotted the SUV on the shoulder of the freeway about 100 yards from where the bags spilled over. The SUV had a large hole on the passenger side of its shattered windshield. Trash bags, cement bags and other materials could be seen piled up next to the bed of the overturned truck above.

The accident forced a 2-hour closure of the southbound I-805 connector to eastbound SR-52, Caltrans advised. Traffic was being diverted to SR-52 westbound.

This is a developing story. Details may change as information is released.

The driver was headed west on Interstate 495 toward Interstate 395 in Springfield, Virginia, when their Kia ran off the roadway near Exit 170B at about 1:20 a.m., Virginia State Police said the initial investigation shows.

The car went over the side of a cement barrier of the elevated ramp, crashed onto railroad tracks below and caught fire, police said.

The driver was killed. Their identity was not immediately released. No one else was in the car, police said.

The Inner Loop and Outer Loop ramps to I-395 were closed following the crash and later reopened.

The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) did not report any service delays or damage to the tracks. A 5:42 a.m. train moved through the area as scheduled.

No information was immediately released on the possible cause of the crash. The investigation is ongoing.

This is a developing story. Stay with News4 for updates.

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Illinois State Police said the cause of the crash was “excessive winds blowing dirt from farm fields across the highway leading to zero visibility.”

“My heart goes out to the families,” Illinois State Police Major Ryan Starrick said. “My heart goes out to anybody that found themselves involved in this particular situation. It sounds like due to the low visibility, the high winds, everything just came together, unfortunately, on this particular stretch of I-55. My heart goes out to them.”

According to the NBC 5 Storm Team, the dust in the air could be caused by tilling, which is common during this time of year.

State police also cited that potential, stating that such scenarios are “not uncommon.”

“This has happened before in various parts of the state of the Illinois, where unfortunately due to excessive high winds, that once the farmers have turned the field, the topsoil or the dirt that’s on top there gets loose,” Starrick said. “It’s extremely dry, and due to the excessive winds of the area, will blow across certain roadways.”

A “blowing dust warning” was issued for some counties in the area. The warning remains in effect through 7 p.m. in Sangamon, Christian and Shelby counties.

“Severely limited visibilities are expected,” the warning states. “Travel will be dangerous and possibly life-threatening.”

The National Weather Service urged people under the warning to stay indoors until the storm passes.

“Be ready for a sudden drop in visibility to near zero,” the NWS stated. “If you encounter blowing dust on the roadway or see it approaching, pull off the road as far as possible and put your vehicle in park. Turn the lights all the way off and keep your foot off the brake pedal.”

According to Illinois State Police, six fatalities were reported with the crashes. At least 30 others, ranging in age from 2 to 80 years old, were taken to area hospitals in unknown conditions.

Authorities said they were still conducting additional searches through the vehicles involved, which included an estimated 30 commercial vehicles and 40 to 60 passenger cars.

The crash shut down I-55 in both directions for miles between Divernon and Farmersville, outside of Springfield, as police urged travelers to avoid the area. The roadway is expected to remain closed until Tuesday afternoon.

The “large crash” took place near milepost 76 in Montgomery County. Police said it initially happened in the northbound lanes of the highly trafficked interstate, but crashes then followed in the southbound lanes.

At least two semi-trucks caught fire during the crash.

Police said “visibility in the area is reported to be low due to blowing dust.” Visibility was reported to be at “less than a quarter of a mile” at the time of the crash, according to the National Weather Service.

According to Illinois State Police, at least 30 people, ranging in age from 2 to 80 years old, were taken to area hospitals. Their conditions weren’t immediately known.

Authorities said they were still conducting additional searches through the vehicles involved, which included an estimated 30 commercial vehicles and 40 to 60 passenger cars. The biggest challenge, according to Montgomery County EMA Director Kevin Schott, was trying to get to victims quickly.

“We had multiple vehicles involves, some were on fire,” he said during a news briefing. “So we had vehicle fires to extinguish, we had to search every vehicle whether they were involved in the accident or just pulled over to check for for injuries, to getting them out of there rapidly and getting to the hospital so that we can provide professional care for them.”

Schott said the day was “very emotion” and the situation that unfolded was “very rapid.”

“My heart goes out to the families,” Starrick added. “My heart goes out to anybody that found themselves involved in this particular situation. It sounds like due to the low visibility, the high winds, everything just came together, unfortunately, on this particular stretch of I-55. My heart goes out to them.”

The crash shut down I-55 in both directions for miles between Divernon and Farmersville, outside of Springfield, as police urged travelers to avoid the area. The roadway is expected to remain closed until Tuesday afternoon.

The “large crash” took place near milepost 76 in Montgomery County. Police said it initially happened in the northbound lanes of the highly trafficked interstate, but crashes then followed in the southbound lanes.

At least two semi-trucks caught fire during the crash.

Police said “visibility in the area is reported to be low due to blowing dust.” Visibility was reported to be at “less than a quarter of a mile” at the time of the crash, according to the National Weather Service.

“The cause of the crash is due to excessive winds blowing dirt from farm fields across the highway leading to zero visibility,” ISP said in a release.

A “blowing dust warning” was issued for some counties in the area. The warning remains in effect through 7 p.m. in Sangamon, Christian and Shelby counties, though a warning was not issued for the location where the crash took place.

“Severely limited visibilities are expected,” the warning states. “Travel will be dangerous and possibly life-threatening.”

The National Weather Service urged people under the warning to stay indoors until the storm passes.

“Be ready for a sudden drop in visibility to near zero,” the NWS stated. “If you encounter blowing dust on the roadway or see it approaching, pull off the road as far as possible and put your vehicle in park. Turn the lights all the way off and keep your foot off the brake pedal.”

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he was closely monitoring the “horrific situation.”

“My team is in constant communication with the Illinois State Police, Department of Transportation and Emergency Management Agency to ensure the safety of motorists as they navigate dangerous conditions,” he said in a statement. “On the ground, our first responders and emergency management teams are working diligently to clear the road, provide medical care to those in need and collaborate with local officials to provide support to everyone affected by this tragic accident.”

According to the NBC 5 Storm Team, the dust in the air could be caused by tilling, which is common during this time of year.

State police also cited that potential, stating that such scenarios are “not uncommon.”

“This has happened before in various parts of the state of the Illinois, where unfortunately due to excessive high winds, that once the farmers have turned the field, the topsoil or the dirt that’s on top there gets loose,” Major Starrick said. “It’s extremely dry, and due to the excessive winds of the area, will blow across certain roadways.”

News4 used a drone to get an aerial view of what drivers on Interstate 95 will see soon in Prince William County.

A new travel lane will open in Occoquan, just south of the Occoquan River, at a notorious traffic bottleneck. Crews transformed a southbound shoulder lane into a new travel lane for a mile-and-a-half, from 123 all the way to the Prince William Parkway. They also put in a new paved shoulder, new retaining walls and better lighting. It all should hopefully make for a better driving experience.

“I don’t care what time of day it is — this is this all the time,” driver Linda Bradshaw said as she gestured toward the traffic.

She’s a Stafford resident whose 23-minute daily commute can take 45 minutes to over an hour because of the backup.

Bradshaw said she hopes the new lane will give people more space in which to merge.

More than 20,000 drivers per day merge on this stretch of highway, according to the state department of transportation. Many drivers don’t do that so well, spokeswoman Ellen Kamilakis said.

“I live in Northern Virginia as well and, as much as we joke about Maryland drivers, Virginia drivers are terrible as well,” she said.

Drivers’ bad merging has led to a lot of sideswipe crashes, which should improve.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held Thursday, though the lanes will not officially open until mid-May. The final cost of the project was about $24 million.

Video shows a long line of stopped traffic. Five people wearing neon vests could be seen sitting on the ground and holding a banner.

Both lanes of northbound traffic were blocked near the parkway’s scenic overlooks as of 8:40 a.m., U.S. Park Police said. The roadway was back open about 40 minutes later.

The group Declare Emergency, which seeks urgent government action on climate change, claimed responsibility online. People holding up signs for the group shut down a portion of the Capital Beltway in Silver Spring in October, causing delays for miles.

It wasn’t immediately clear if anyone was arrested on Wednesday.

Drivers already were dealing with delays on GW Parkway. A major construction project began days earlier and is expected to reduce the number of lanes through 2025.

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The parkway is used by about 70,000 vehicles a day, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a release, so these changes will have a major impact on D.C.-area commuters.

The Basics of the GW Parkway Construction

Where: The northern section of the GW Parkway in the McLean area, between the Capital Beltway (I-495) and Route 123 (Dolley Madison Boulevard).

When: On Saturday, April 22, the new traffic pattern will take effect. It’s expected to continue through late 2025.

What:

• The current southbound lanes will be shut down completely.
• All traffic will use lanes on what’s currently the northbound side. Crews have added a temporary third lane.
• One reversible lane will be used for morning and afternoon rush hour only.
• Three lanes will be open during rush hour. One southbound and one northbound lane will be open the rest of the time.
• The speed limit will be reduced to 40 mph.

Why: A $161 million rehabilitation project is set to improve the driving experience (eventually), enhance safety and water drainage, plus open scenic views, officials said. It’s the same area where a large sinkhole opened in 2019.

Temporary Closure April 20-21

Crews are set to install temporary lane dividers between Thursday night and Friday afternoon.

“Motorists should expect single lane, northbound closures from 8 p.m. on April 20 to 2:45 p.m. on April 21 during these preparations,” the National Park Service said.

Here’s the GW Parkway’s New Traffic Pattern

The new traffic pattern is set to begin between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday.

The current southbound lanes of the GW Parkway are set to be closed for construction. The GW Parkway will be reduced to three lanes, including one reversible lane.

“Once you get in one of those lanes, you’re going to have to stay in your lane,” Mark Maloy of the National Park Service said. “The lanes will be slightly narrower, so we’re asking people to use caution.”

Drivers should follow signs to make sure they’re using the new three-lane system properly, officials said.

Here’s the schedule, according to the National Park Service:

Weekday morning rush hour (5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.) 

• Two lanes southbound (toward Washington D.C.)
  • Drivers who need to exit at Route 123 or CIA Headquarters must use the right lane. 
• One lane northbound (toward Maryland/Virginia). 

Weekday evening rush hour (2:45 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.) 

• Two lanes northbound (toward Maryland/Virginia).
  • Drivers who need to exit at Route 123 or CIA Headquarters must use the right lane. 
• One lane southbound (toward Washington D.C.). 

 Weekdays (9:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.) and weekends 

• One lane southbound (toward Washington, DC). 
• One lane northbound (toward Maryland/Virginia). 

The GW Parkway hasn’t undergone rehabilitation since it opened in 1962, the National Park Service said.

Troopers responded to the work zone on northbound Interstate 695 at Security Boulevard in the Woodlawn area around 12:40 p.m. for a report of a pedestrian crash, police said in a news release. Emergency medical service personnel pronounced six people, all of them workers, dead on the scene, and the driver of the car, an Acura, was taken to the University of Maryland Medical Center’s Shock Trauma Center, police said.

Investigators believe the driver of the Acura was trying to change lanes when she struck the front corner panel on the passenger side of a Volkswagen. The Acura lost control, and pulled between the jersey walls of the work zone and hit multiple workers before overturning, police said.

The crash closed the beltway in both directions for hours, snarling traffic along the west side of the highway that encircles the city. Baltimore County Fire Department officials called the crash “extremely serious” and asked drivers to avoid the area.

Baltimore County Executive Johnny Olszewski called the incident horrific.

“We offer our sincere condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of those who have lost their lives in today’s tragic crash,” he wrote in a tweet.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Police didn’t release the names of those who were killed pending the notification of next of kin.

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After a recent report about the plans, residents started raising concerns.

“They have just told us, ‘Well, we’re going to take your concerns,’ which for me is an equivalent of thoughts and prayers,” said John Hassell, who lives on nearby 19^th Street NW.

“It’s really only now that people are realizing, ‘Oh, there’s going to be a construction zone in my backyard,’ and that’s frightening,” said Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Meg Roggensack, who fully supports the plan.

Residents are debating the necessity of the $30 million project and the impacts to businesses and traffic.

Roggensack doesn’t sugarcoat the impact to businesses. 

“We talk about the merchants here,” she said. “They’ve just been through one of the toughest challenges, multiyear pandemic, and we want them to survive this, as well, and that’s going to be hard. They’re going to have construction right in front of their door.”

Hassell worries three years of construction will push traffic down his street.

“This sign right here says the street is too narrow to handle trucks that have this kind of limitation on it,” he said pointing out a sign reading, “No thru trucks over 1 ¼ ton capacity.” “This street cannot handle the traffic that would come from this project up 19^th Street.”

Another public meeting with the D.C. Department of Transportations is being eyed for the spring.

The truck was at mile marker 43.5 on I-495. All lanes were closed, causing traffic to be backed up for about 1.3 miles, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).

Traffic was being diverted to Georgetown Pike. Vehicles that remained on the road were also turned around and directed to Georgetown Pike to clear some of the traffic, according to VDOT.

The tractor-trailer was traveling southbound on I-495 when it crashed near Exit 44. Police responded to the crash at about 1 p.m. The impact of the crash caused the vehicle to catch fire, according to a Virginia State Police release.

The driver was taken to the hospital with injuries that are not life-threatening.

Video shows that the front of the tractor-trailer was completely engulfed in flames with dark grey smoke billowing from it.

Crews extinguished the fire and cleaned up the area around the accident for several hours.

This is a developing story. Stay with News4 for more updates.

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The truck overturned on the southbound BW Parkway just past Maryland Route 201 and near Route 50, the Metropolitan Area Transportation Operations Coordination Program said, which is in the Cheverly area. The truck was the only vehicle involved, U.S. Park Police said.

Southbound lanes reopened completely, police said about 8:20 a.m. Traffic had been diverted to MD-202, then Route 50/New York Avenue, for several hours early Thursday. Backups began before the Capital Beltway, officials said.

The driver was taken to a hospital with injuries that are not considered serious, police said.

Commercial vehicles are prohibited on the BW Parkway south of MD-175 and other roads operated by the National Park Service, such as Suitland Parkway and Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway, Twiname said.

The driver faces a citation for a commercial vehicle on the roadway, Twiname said.

Officials previously it could take seven to 10 hours to clean up the crash entirely.

The crash blocked access to the BW Parkway from MD-201, MD-202 or MD-450, transport officials said. Kenilworth Avenue to New York Avenue was closed, police said.

U.S. Park Police Sgt. Thomas Twiname said the goal is to have traffic moving again by 8 a.m.

Stay with News4 for updates.

But what is the summit, and why is it happening in the first place?

What Is the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit?

The U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit is a meeting of international leaders, designed to emphasize and increase cooperation between the U.S. and countries on the African continent.

U.S. President Joe Biden is hosting 49 African heads of state, and the African Union Chair Commissioner, for the three-day conference, according to a press briefing.

That’s not all of the 54 African countries that are members of the United Nations, but the only country that senior administration officials noted as not being invited to the summit was the territory of Western Sahara, because they do not have diplomatic relations with the U.S.

The summit runs from Dec. 13 through Dec. 15, with leaders departing on Friday.

The group of leaders will take part in a number of forum discussions about everything from democracy, to climate change and economic growth goals, to infrastructure, to outer space.

“The Summit will demonstrate the United States’ enduring commitment to Africa, and will underscore the importance of U.S.-Africa relations and increased cooperation on shared global priorities,” the U.S. State Department webpage for the summit says.

The first U.S.-Africa summit was hosted in August 2014, but the U.S. has not held another summit since then. According to that press briefing about the summit, Biden “came in on day one with a determination to revitalize our partnerships with African countries.”

A quote from Biden on the Summit webpage reiterates that commitment.

“I look forward to working with African governments, civil society, diaspora communities across the United States, and the private sector to continue strengthening our shared vision for the future of U.S.-Africa relations,” Biden said.

Why Is the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit Messing With D.C. Traffic?

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser requested the Secret Service designate the summit as a national special security event because of the large number of world leaders gathering in one place.

That means major road closures, checkpoints and fencing started going up around the Washington Convention Center on Sunday, and will continue through Saturday, Dec. 17.

Bus lines will be rerouted around the street closures, and the Mount Vernon Metro station is closed through midnight on Thursday, Dec. 15.

For the full list of road closures and emergency no parking streets, click here.

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Road Closures Begin Ahead of Africa Leaders Summit

The summit will include at least 60 leaders from African nations as well as President Joe Biden. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser requested the Secret Service designate the summit as a national special security event because of the large number of world leaders gathering in one place.

As part of the security, 8-foot, non-scalable fencing will go up around the convention center. The fencing is similar to what went up around the Supreme Court after the Roe v. Wade decision.

“There will be a hard perimeter that will be established around the convention center itself. So, there will be roadway closures, and then within that fencing, and security perimeters that will require, that if you have to enter into that, you will have to go through some level of screening,” D.C. Police Assistant Chief Jeffery Carroll said.

There also will be several road closures around the convention center starting next week. Parking restrictions begin Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 10 p.m.

“This is a national special security event because of the number of dignitaries that are attending, so there will be multiple motorcades that will be moving through the city at various times,” Carroll said.

Metro buses and trains will also be impacted. Several bus lines around the convention center will be rerouted. The Mount Vernon Metro Station will be closed beginning Monday at 5 p.m. through midnight Thursday, Dec. 15.

D.C. police said they have received about 10 requests for protest permits related to the summit.

President Biden also approved D.C.’s request for the National Guard’s assistance during the event.

The U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit was also declared a national special security event the last time it was held, in 2014.

Here’ what to expect, from D.C. police:

Road Closures

The following street will be closed to vehicle traffic from Sunday, December 11, 2022, at 4 p.m. through Saturday, December 17, 2022, at midnight:

• Mount Vernon Place from 7^th Street to 9^th Street, NW      

The following streets will be closed for public safety to vehicle traffic from Monday, December 12, 2022, at 6 a.m. through Saturday, December 1,2022, at midnight:

• 7^th Street from I Street to O Street, NW 
• 8^th Street from N Street to O Street, NW  
• 9^th Street from New York Avenue to O Street, NW  
• K Street from 6^th Street to 7^th Street, NW  
• K Street from 9^th Street to 10^th Street, NW  
• L Street from 6^th Street to 10^th Street, NW  
• M Street from 6^th Street to 10^th Street, NW  
• N Street from 6^th Street to 10^th Street, NW  
• New York Avenue from 6^th Street to 10^th Street, NW  
• Massachusetts Avenue from 9^th Street to 10^th Street, NW  

Emergency No Parking

The following streets will be posted as Emergency No Parking from Wednesday, December 7, 2022, at 10:00 p.m. through Saturday, December 17, 2022, at midnight:

• 7^th Street from Massachusetts Avenue to O Street, NW  
•  9^th Street from H Street to O Street, NW  
• 10^th Street from New York Avenue to N Street, NW  
• 11^th Street from H Street to L Street, NW  
• 12^th Street from K Street to Massachusetts Avenue, NW  
• 12^th Street from H Street to I Street, NW  
• 13^th Street from H Street to I Street, NW  
•  H Street from 13^th Street to 14^th Street, NW  
• K Street from 6^th Street to 10^th Street, NW  
• Mount Vernon Place from 7^th Street to 9^th Street, NW 
• L Street from 6^th Street to 12^th Street, NW  
• M Street from 6^th Street to 10^th Street, NW  
• N Street from 6^th Street to 10^th Street, NW  
• Street from 6^th Street to 9^th Street, NW  
• New York Avenue from 6^th Street to 14^th Street, NW  
• Massachusetts Avenue from 6^th Street to 13^th Street, NW  

The complete traffic advisory can be found here.

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The District officially welcomed in the holiday season as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other members of Congress lit the Capitol’s Christmas tree on Tuesday evening.

On Wednesday night, it’s the White House’s turn.

While the lights on the trees may be merry and bright, the lights of the bumper-to-bumper traffic that might accompany the events aren’t. Here’s what to know about road closures near the Capitol and the White House, so you can avoid a traffic nightmare before Christmas.

When Is the White House Christmas Tree Lighting?

The Christmas tree outside the White House, also known as the National Tree, is officially getting lit up Wednesday in its home on the White House Ellipse in President’s Park.

It’s a living, 27-foot white fir planted last October, after the previous live tree designated as the National Christmas Tree was removed in May 2021 due to a fungal tree disease.

Unlike the Capitol tree ceremony on the West Lawn, the outdoor White House tree lighting is only open to those who were granted tickets via a lottery system, which closed Nov. 1. The ceremony will be televised on CBS on Sunday, Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. and will appear online the next day, according to the National Park Foundation’s news release about the event.

The 100th lighting ceremony for the outdoor White House tree will be hosted by LL Cool J and will feature on-stage performances by Grammy-winning gospel singer Yolanda Adams and Oscar-winning actress Ariana DeBose. Other performers include Gloria Estefan, Andy Grammer, Joss Stone and Shania Twain.

If you’re already getting into the Christmas spirit, you can visit the tree in-person before the ceremony on TV. After the lighting ceremony on Wednesday, the National Tree will be open to the public starting Dec. 2, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, according to the NPF.

The tree is free to visit and will stay up until Jan. 1, 2023.

There’s also an indoor tree traditionally set up in the Blue Room of the White House. If you remember last week’s delivery of a massive, 18-foot-tall tree to first lady Dr. Jill Biden, that’s the concolor fir from Auburn, Pennsylvania, that now takes up so much space that the chandelier had to be removed from the room.

This year’s tree was “presented by the Shealer Family of Evergreen Acres Christmas Tree Farm, the 2022 Grand Champion Grower in the National Christmas Tree Association’s annual contest,” according to the White House.

What Are the Roads Closures for the White House Christmas Tree Lighting?

The White House's National Tree Lighting ceremony is the one likely to cause a huge traffic snarl.

These streets will be marked as "Emergency No Parking" Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., according to the Metropolitan Police Department:

• 17th Street between Pennsylvania Avenue to Constitution Avenue NW
• Constitution Avenue between 18th and 14th streets NW
• 15th Street between F Street and Constitution Avenue NW

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Meanwhile, these streets will be closed Wednesday from 1 p.m. until about 7 p.m., with a warning from the MPD that "all street closures and listed times are subject to change based upon prevailing or unexpected conditions":

• 17th Street between Pennsylvania Avenue and Independence Avenue SW
• C Street between 17th and 18th streets NW
• D Street between 17th and 18th streets NW
• E Street between 17th and 18th streets NW
• F Street between 17th and 18th streets NW
• G Street between 17th and 18th streets NW
• New York Avenue between 17th and 18th streets NW
• Constitution Avenue between 18th and 14th streets NW
• 15th Street between F Street and Independence Avenue SW
• Pennsylvania Avenue between 14th and 15th streets NW

MPD also warned drivers to be careful, as there will likely be more pedestrians in those areas.

When Is the Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting?

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree was lit on Tuesday night, in a ceremony on the West Front Lawn.

The 78-foot-tall red spruce from North Carolina, nicknamed "Ruby," arrived in D.C. on Nov. 18, and spent the past week and a half getting decked out by employees from the Architect of the Capitol's Grounds and Arboretum team. According to the Architect of the Capitol, the tree is decorated with "thousands of handcrafted ornaments from the people of North Carolina."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will light this year's tree during Tuesday's free, open-to-the-public ceremony. No ticket is needed for those who want to attend.

After that, the lights will be on every night from nightfall to 11 p.m., until Jan. 1, 2023.

What Roads Will Be Closed During the Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting?

According to a spokesperson for the U.S. Capitol Police, the following road closures begin Tuesday at 4 p.m., and last through the end of the Capitol tree lighting ceremony:

• First Street between Constitution Avenue NW and Independence Avenue SW
• Pennsylvania Avenue between First Street NW and Third Street NW
• Maryland Avenue between First Street SW and Third Street SW

Drivers in the area, such as Capitol Hill staffers, will be able to drive out of the closed roads, but no traffic can enter the closed areas until after the ceremony.

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The water main issues were first reported at about 3 p.m. Tuesday. Crews are working to repair the water main by digging out and replacing a 24-inch pipe, according to WSSC Water.

“Fixing a pipe of this size is not a quick fix. We appreciate your patience as our work continues thru [through] the night,” WSSC tweeted.

One lane is open to two-way traffic on Clopper Road between Waring Station and Mateny roads. News4’s traffic reporter Melissa Mollet recommends taking Seneca Highway during the morning commute.

“Avoid this area if you can! Your best alternate? Great Seneca Highway to the south or I-270 to the north,” Mollet tweeted.

The outage could affect fire hydrants and water pressure, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue. They said they water tankers in the area as a precaution.

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All lanes were shut down at the University Boulevard exit, causing traffic backups more than four miles long. The lanes reopened a few hours later.

Two vehicles and a cement truck got into a crash, and the truck flipped onto its side, a spokesperson for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue said.

The spokesperson said two injuries were reported.

No further information was immediately available.

Stay with News4 for updates to this developing story.

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More people are back at work, but hybrid work schedules are making it harder for drivers to know when to expect bad traffic.

Some workers told News4 they can’t plan for it. For instance, a Monday isn’t always the same as a Wednesday when it comes to general, everyday traffic.

“It is really unpredictable. I live up in Manassas, so I have about 45 minutes to an hour commute because of traffic — so it’s really frustrating,” one woman told News4.

Others say they’ve noticed more traffic in the middle of the week.

“Back to normal, at least probably, like, Tuesday, Wednesday … but I think on Fridays, probably still less. Less people are probably in the office those days,” commuter Brad Gallant said.

Gallant said he enjoys the hybrid work schedule, even if it seems to compress commutes to the middle of the week.

But hybrid schedules are just one part of the issue.

“Construction, all these toll roads — it makes for a longer commute,” a woman said.

One thing is certain: More employees are heading back to the office.

Data from Kastle Systems, which tracks key card swipes at office buildings, shows that last week, its local offices had a 44.7% occupancy rate. That was up 4.7% from the week before, when there was a 40% occupancy rate.

Metro also reported an increase in riders on trains.

“There’s no question in last two weeks, ridership has seen a pretty good increase. I think if I recall, last week we were up 9% week over week,” Metro General Manager Randy Clarke said in a meeting with the Montgomery County Council.

But Clarke says Metro is having a harder time tracking exact travel patterns.

The pedestrian zone took place Sunday from 12 to 10 p.m. on 18^th Street NW between Kalorama and Columbia Roads. The areas were closed to vehicle traffic, but open to pedestrians.

“Pedestrians, pets, people on scooters, cart wheelers, stilt-walkers, runners, and bicyclists are all welcome to spread out and move safely and freely through the street,” the Adams Morgan Partnership BID said in a statement.

During the event, orange cones lined the road, while streets were blocked off with police cars and trucks. People who attended walked in the middle of the street and created a celebratory mood.

In early August, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the street closure is a part of the “Streets for People” grant program. The program aims to create economic recovery and support local businesses through programming.

Throughout the day, there was entertainment in five different zones. The activities included face painting, a cardio hip hop class, a juggler and more. A full list of entertainment can be found here.

The street closure will also take place on Sunday, Sept. 4, and Oct. 23.

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A portion of 18th Street NW will close at least one Sunday a month between August and October, the order said. The street closures are a part of the “Streets for People” grant program which aims to create economic recovery and support local businesses through programming.

“It’s official: 18^th Street in Adams Morgan will be open to pedestrians (and closed to cars),” Peter Wood, an Adams Morgan commissioner, said.

Adams Morgan is known for its restaurants, shopping and live music. Since the pandemic, restaurant “streeteries” have filled area parking lanes.

“To increase space for people to come and walk and dine and bicycle,” Kristen Barden, executive director of the Adams Morgan BID, said. “We’re going to have some pop up entertainment for people of all ages.”

According to Wood, the Sunday street closures are a “trial phase” for a more permanent arrangement being planned.

“We’re hoping if these are successful, that we’ll be able to expand the program to cover more weekends and a longer period of time, so this is only the beginning,” Barden said.

Anita Cozart, the interim director of the DC Office of Planning, said Adams Morgan will not be the first street closure event nor the last. The District plans to make more “Streets for People” grants available to neighborhoods in October.

“We are piloting approaches to reusing our streets, our alleys, our plazas, our sidewalks, in ways that really transform how people experience downtown,” Cozart said.

During the National Cherry Blossom Festival, a part of Fifth Street was closed for a spring event, Cozart said. D.C. BIDs have also held live music events, art festivals, outdoor movies and more.

The street will be closed to car traffic and designated as a “special event area” between Kalorama and Columbia roads from 12 to 10 p.m. on Aug. 21, Sept. 4 and Oct. 23.

The street closures will impact some MetroBus routes.

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Tina Lawson gave our very own traffic reporter Sheila Watko a shout out on her Instagram account Wednesday, after seeing Sheila’s traffic tribute to celebrate Beyoncé’s new album “Renaissance.”

In Sheila’s Aug. 2 report, she incorporated 15 song titles, old and new, from the Queen B without using a script, proving she was an ultimate member of the Beehive.

“The rest of the hive has been so sweet! I love making people laugh and spreading some joy where I can – it’s a tough world out there! When I saw so many comments from people getting a kick out of the Bey references, I was thrilled,” Sheila said.

Songs included early hits from Beyoncé’s time with girl group Destiny’s Child like “Jumpin, Jumpin” and new hits like “Break My Soul” and “Heated”.

Sheila planned to do this July 29, the day Beyoncé released her new album, but traffic had other plans.

“I planned to do this last Friday, but there was a big crash, so I had to keep it serious,” Watko said in an Instagram caption.

Flash forward two days later and Sheila was stunned when her friend notified her that Lawson reposted the traffic report.

“I did not believe it was true,” Sheila wrote. “When I went onto her Instagram, I was STUNNED! Beyoncé’s mother, Ms. Tina herself, knows of my existence?! I couldn’t stop smiling and then, of course, had to tell my own mom!”

This isn’t the first time Sheila has incorporated songs from some of her favorite artist into the newscast. She did it last month when Big Time Rush was in town for a concert. She has also done it twice with Taylor Swift, most recently dropping Easter eggs after the singer released her “Red” album.

Our super star has one message for the Queen Bey.

“Beyoncé, there’s a reason you are the Queen. You make so many people feel confident and powerful and beautiful, just like you are. Now give us Act II and come to Philly ASAP! Also… tell your mom I said thank you!”

Sheila has since gone on to be recognized by the Today Show, People Magazine, Rolling Stone and many other publications.

Sheila, “Welcome to Hollywood.”

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All lanes have reopened, the Virginia Department of Transportation said.

The tree fell near Braddock Road (Virginia Route 620). Virginia State Police said they got the report about 3 a.m.

Cars were forced to use the Express Lanes to get by, and tolls were suspended, the Metropolitan Area Transportation Operations Coordination Program said.

Stay with News4 for more on this developing story.

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All of the main southbound lanes of the Beltway Outer Loop were shut down just south of US-50 in Falls Church as crews put out the fire and worked to clean up the scene beginning about 4:30 p.m. At one point, traffic stretched from Falls Church to Bethesda, Chopper4’s Brad Freitas reported.

It is unclear what caused the fire. No injuries were reported, according to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.

Two left lanes reopened about 6 p.m. As of 9:15 p.m., two right lanes remained blocked and there was still over 1.5 miles of delays as crews worked to remove the truck. All lanes were back open in time for the Thursday morning commute.

The express lanes were also getting by, but the rate to enter was about $31.

Video from Chopper4 showed miles of cars and trucks sitting in traffic waiting to get through.

Stay with News4 for updates to this developing story.

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Chunks of wet tar and asphalt caked onto cars’ tires and got stuck in the wheel beds.

Drivers who needed help with the gunk began pulling in to Million Man Tires on Benning Road NE one by one, an employee said. He told them it would be cheaper to buy new tires than to try to clean up the mess. A number of loose tires could be seen at the shop, coated with a thick layer of dried asphalt.

So, what went wrong? The District Department of Transportation is searching for answers. 

Deputy Director Sharon Kershbaum said the focus is on the application of a product used to seal joints in roadways. Crews put it down before they put down asphalt. 

“We think it was the application itself and not the materials — something about how it was applied. But, honestly, we need to look into it further. This has never happened before,” Kershbaum said. 

News4 reached out to Fort Myer Construction Corporation, the contractor doing the work, but they did not immediately respond.

D.C. accepts responsibility for the problem, Mayor Muriel Bowser said. 

“My initial feedback was that there was a misapplied material, but I have to dig in to that a little bit more,” she said Thursday. 

The D.C. Office of Risk Management is accepting complaints from drivers whose tires were coated in the tar.

A portion of southbound DC-295 was first closed at about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. All lanes were back open 15 hours later, at 5:30 a.m. Thursday.

Work to determine the cause of the problem is ongoing.

At least five people were hurt on DC-295 nearly a year ago, when a truck struck a pedestrian bridge and it crashed down onto the roadway.

Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story. 

A 25-foot-wide sinkhole was discovered on the highway Wednesday night, officials told News4. 

On Thursday, the two right lanes plus the right shoulder were closed — and officials said they could stay closed for days and cause major delays. 

The sinkhole was found before the I-370 exit, near the Muddy Branch Road overpass. 

First4 Traffic’s Melissa Mollet said your best detour route is likely to be Rockville Pike. Traffic was light in the early hours of Thursday, but that was likely to change as the day continued.

“I think it’s just going to get worse,” Mollet said.

Follow News4 and First4 Traffic for updates. 

Maryland State Police said a broken drainage pipe of about 6 feet wide caused the sinkhole. 

Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story. 

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Twelve trucks were towed from the area of 45th Street and 12th Avenue in Manhattan Tuesday morning and officials said more were expected to be towed from an area near 38th Street and 10th Avenue later in the day. The amount of parking ticket debt in judgment right now is $316,000, though the total outstanding debt is $504,000.

Some of the vehicles towed Tuesday were towed because their tickets were in judgment, while others were towed just because they were parked illegally. The sheriff’s office says commercial vehicles aren’t allowed to park in the areas where they were or will be seized. In the 45th Street case, they allegedly were parked there overnight.

“This has absolutely nothing to do with marijuana, it only has to do with unpaid debt. Judgement debt, that’s not paid and owed to the city of New York,” said NYC Depute Sheriff Maureen Kokeas. “The Department of Finance has communicated with these parties many, many, many times over many years trying to collect this debt, and the debt was ignored — so we went out and took enforcement action.”

The owner of Weed World, Bilal Muhammad, told NBC New York over the phone that the company “is not trying to get around paying tickets. The city makes a lot of money off of Weed World, we will make sure our debt are paid.”

A Weed World spokesperson said the company was aware of “some unpaid parking tickets” and in the process of addressing the situation. The spokesperson said the company was in the process of doing so last week, before Tuesday’s seizure, to manage tickets stemming from employees who are no longer with the company.

“It’s like the responsibility was left on the company because it was really the responsibility of the contractors who didn’t make good on the tickets,” the Weed World representative said. “So they just left on the company to take that burden, that’s it.”

Muhammad said that the company’s ticket situation “got out of hand” after the contractors didn’t pay, leaving Weed World to deal with it. He said they “took for granted tickets were just being taken care of,” and that going forward, tickets will be paid on time.

“We’re taking this seriously and the people that don’t play by the rules should have to pay,” said Depute Sheriff Kokeas.

According to its website, Weed World Candies launched in 1999 with the goal to get marijuana and hemp legalized and industrialized.

“We tour the country in a fleet of ‘loud’ vehicles promoting the legalization and decriminalization of the cannabis plant and all its components,” it says.   

It’s not clear what the so-called “weed trucks” were selling in Weed World’s name. The website lists only CBD products, which lack THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, and says its campers sell “lollipops.”

Weed World’s vehicles will not be released from the impound lot until the parking tickets are paid off.

D.C. police enacted rolling road closures along I-395, I-295 and I-695 in the District. Police confirmed they were blocking several exit ramps, but announced about 4:30 p.m. that they were reopening all closures.

However, officials said “heavy traffic volume” remained in the area.

After major protests by truckers in Canada, U.S. truckers have taken the highways and have headed to the D.C. area to protest COVID-related mandates.

This month, groups circled the Capital Beltway without causing major disruptions. Hundreds of National Guard troops were activated to assist with possible traffic impacts before President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address.

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Stay with News4 for updates.

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There were no reported deaths or injuries from the calamity on Interstate 95, but plenty of outrage from motorists, some of whom were stranded overnight Monday into Tuesday, posting pleas for help on social media.

Drivers, and passengers including kids, pets and people with medical needs, as well as U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, who represents Virginia, were among those stranded.

Some travelers ran out of gas in freezing temperatures. Many had little food or water. There was no ready access to bathrooms.

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I-95, among the busiest highways in the capital region, reopened by 8:40 p.m. Tuesday, a day-and-a-half the impassable gridlock left drivers stranded, the Virginia Department of Transportation announced.

Authorities had announced earlier in the evening that all stranded motorists had made it off the highway, and road crews then focused on removing the remaining abandoned vehicles and making sure the entire stretch was plowed.

Slick, icy conditions are possible through Wednesday morning, but the interstate has been cleared of disabled vehicles, VDOT said.

“We all need to be clear that this was an incredibly unusual event,” Gov. Ralph Northam said at a news conference, adding that he could understand drivers’ “frustration and fear.”

Problems began Monday morning, when a truck jackknifed on Interstate 95 between Richmond and Washington, triggering a swift chain reaction as other vehicles lost control, state police said.

They mounted throughout the day as snow fell at a rate of up to 2 inches an hour, said Marcie Parker, a Virginia Department of Transportation engineer leading the effort to clear the interstate.

“That was entirely too much for us to keep up with,” she told reporters. “Consequently, with the amount of traffic that we had on the interstate, the trucks and the cars couldn’t make it up and down the hills because we had too much snow and ice out there.”

Lanes in both directions eventually became blocked across an approximately 40-mile stretch of I-95 north of Richmond. As hours passed and night fell, motorists posted messages on social media about running out of fuel, food and water.

Prime Inc. truck driver Emily Slaughter said she was driving from New Jersey to Georgia to deliver vegetables to a FedEx facility and became stranded for five hours on the southbound side of I-95. She said everything on the road was fine until she hit Virginia.

“All of a sudden you could no longer see lines. It got a little scary there,” she said.

Slaughter said she soon came to a stop and she found out about the disabled vehicles on the radio and over social media.

“People were saying, ‘we’re running out of gas’ or ‘our kids are hungry,’” she said.

Meera Rao and her husband, Raghavendra, were driving home from visiting their daughter in North Carolina when they got stuck Monday evening. They were only 100 feet past an exit but could not move for roughly 16 hours.

“Not one police (officer) came in the 16 hours we were stuck,” she said. “No one came. It was just shocking. Being in the most advanced country in the world, no one knew how to even clear one lane for all of us to get out of that mess?”

Northam defended his decision not to activate the Virginia National Guard or declare a state of emergency.

He said the issue facing state crews was not a lack of manpower but the difficulty of getting workers and equipment through the snow and ice to where they needed to be. And he said a state of emergency, which would typically be declared hours or days before an event to create extra flexibility in responding, would have done no good.

Up to 11 inches of snow fell in the area during Monday’s storm, according to the National Weather Service, and state police had warned people to avoid driving unless absolutely necessary, especially as colder nighttime temperatures set in.

Because the storm began with rain, crews could not pretreat the roads because the salt or chemicals would have washed away, officials said. Some traffic cameras were also knocked out by power outages. And Parker said the position of the traffic backups in relation to the interstate’s express lanes meant they were not of much use to clear the logjams.

Crews worked throughout the day to clear the roadway, and traffic spilled out onto secondary roads, causing additional delays.

By early evening, only about 20 cars remained on the affected section of road and no one was left stranded, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Transportation said.

Officials never provided an estimate of the number of vehicles that tied up in the jam. Photos showed they numbered in the hundreds, if not thousands.

The storm also left passengers on an Amtrak train stranded in Virginia. Amtrak’s Crescent left New Orleans on Sunday on its way to New York and got stuck near Lynchburg on Monday morning, when downed trees blocked the tracks.

Passenger Sean Thornton told AP that Amtrak provided food, but toilets were overflowing and passengers were furious. Amtrak planned for the train to complete its trip once the tracks are clear.

Kelly Hannon, a spokeswoman for the transportation department, apologized to motorists for the I-95 logjam and said the department would take an “exhaustive look” at the incident.

Marvin Romero, who was driving home from a family vacation in South Florida with his daughters, ages 10 and 8, took a rather optimistic view of the situation, despite spending 20 hours and a long, anxious night in the car.

“To me, I see it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. How many people can actually say that they stepped on I-95, or they slept on I-95?” he said. “It’s hopefully a story that I can tell my grandkids one day.”

___

Associated Press writers Matthew Barakat in Falls Church, Virginia; Bryan Gallion in Roseland, New Jersey; Michael Kunzelman in College Park, Maryland; Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia; and Julie Walker in New York contributed to this report.

The Beltway Outer Loop approaching the Woodrow Wilson Bridge was clogged with cars unable to make it up the incline to MD-210 starting about 10 a.m. As of about 6:30 p.m., traffic was slowly moving on the bridge.

“It is bumper-to-bumper. It’s three lanes here. People are making it four,” one woman told News4 by phone in the afternoon when she was stuck in the traffic on her way home to Oxon Hill, Maryland. It took her more than three hours to get home.

In Stafford County, Virginia, all southbound lanes of I-95 have been shut down for hours at mile marker 136 near Centreport Parkway after a crash involving six tractor-trailers. Northbound and southbound lanes remained at a standstill at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Some drivers were stuck for more than 15 hours as of Tuesday morning.

Video from Chopper4 shows several jack-knifed trucks and vehicles littered on the roadway as a line of traffic tries to slowly weave past them.

The crash happened before noon, and there were a few minor crashes along the same treacherous stretch of I-95. No injuries have been reported, Virginia State Police said.

Troopers, wreckers, and VDOT crews continue to work as quickly as the weather and roads will safely permit to get stuck vehicles cleared and traffic moving again on I-95, authorities said.

Hundreds more drivers were stuck on eastbound Route 50 at I-97 when a tractor trailer jack-knifed. Salt trucks were trapped in the traffic.

On westbound US-50, cars sat in the snow at Lottsford Vista Road in Mitchellville, Maryland.

Two delivery drivers in Prince George’s County told News4 they had to end their shifts early due to the dangerous road conditions.

Authorities reported hundreds of crashes on numerous roads, including on Ashton Road in Montgomery County where this truck and SUV collided.

Virginia State Police reported nearly 560 crashes and nearly as many disabled or stuck vehicles.

The storm left its mark on D.C., too, downing trees and slowing traffic — including President Biden’s motorcade — to a crawl.

Stay with News4 for updates to this developing story.

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But residents of one Northwest D.C. neighborhood found accessing these outdoor areas to be a challenge. They have been walking blocks to enjoy a nearby park in Silver Spring, Maryland. 

Residents and students have had to face the dangers of two streets: Eastern Avenue, the D.C. border, and Blair Road, in Montgomery County.

The crosswalk at Eastern Avenue and Juniper Street was so beat-up and faded it was almost invisible. There were repair requests dating back to 2020.

Last summer, D.C. Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Evan Yeats pushed to make that walk to the park in Silver Spring safer for students and others. 

Yeats pressed officials on the repair requests and contacted Montgomery County. 

The result was a new crosswalk on Blair Road. Drivers now are stopping for people in the crosswalk.

But the condition of the crosswalk remains the same on Eastern Avenue.

In early September, Yeats received a response from the District Department of Transportation in which they asked for 60 to 90 days to do what’s called a Safe Routes To School assessment.

Now, under a bill introduced before the D.C. Council, the D.C. crosswalk that gets a lot of foot traffic could actually qualify for being made a raised crosswalk.

“This was probably a great crosswalk at one point, but we just need to be able to have a plan to check on these things regularly,” Yeats said.

The chase ended at Edsall Road, where several police cruisers are at the scene and traffic backed up for miles.

The chase started shortly before 5 p.m. Thursday when the car of a Virginia State Police trooper stopped on the shoulder of northbound Interstate 95 in Prince William County to assist another trooper with a traffic stop was struck by a black Chevrolet Malibu that fled the scene, Virginia State Police said.

The struck trooper pursued the Malibu and caught up in Fairfax County just south of the mixing bowl in Springfield, according to Virginia State Police.

The driver of the Malibu then rammed the trooper’s car, forcing it off the road, pinning it to the Jersey wall and causing it to flip on its side, police said. The Malibu left the scene again.

The suspect vehicle continued northbound on Interstate 95, then got onto northbound I-395, police said.

A few minutes after 5 p.m., Fairfax County officers responded and saw the Malibu and pursed it with Virginia State Police, Fairfax County police said.

Chopper4 was over the chase as the Malibu hit several other vehicles and finally the express lane gates before crashing into the median at on 395 at Edsall Road.

Police took the driver into custody. Douglas Johnson Jr., 31, of Maryland, was charged with felony speed to elude.

Video from Chopper4 showed no lanes of traffic getting by for a time before the right lane opened about 5:30 p.m. A second right lane has since reopened.

Two right lanes on I-95 in Lorton were closed where the cruiser overturned.

The trooper in the overturned car was transported to a hospital as a precautionary measure, police said. He was wearing a seatbelt.