UPDATE:

At 11 p.m. Friday night, Albemarle County spokeswoman lee Catlin issued this statement:

"Albemarle County Police and Fire Rescue personnel continue to deal with a large number of stranded vehicles across the County. The plan is to work with VDOT to open up the roads so that folks can continue to their homes. County emergency personnel are working to check on a number of motorists in the Route 53 area. Some have medical issues and are past due on their medications."

December 18, 2009

Most highways leading away from Charlottesville were virtually impassable Friday night with cars off the road, traffic blocked and frustrated drivers waiting for help.

For example, Highway 250 eastbound between Crozet and Ivy was all but closed. Cars blocked the travel lane as they spun their tires trying to climb the hills. Other cars had spun out and slid into the ditch.

I-64, the major east-west route through central Virginia was passable. Speeds averaged about twenty miles an hour and traffic had been reduced to a single lane in each direction.

Traffic was heavy from about 6 p.m. on with trucks and holiday travelers sharing space with commuters trying to get home. The side roads in the Crozet area were snowpacked although some businesses remained open as late as 8 p.m.

Other trouble spots included Highway 53 between Charlottesville and Palmyra where some drivers gave up and started walking miles in the blowing snow. Also dangerous, Highway 20 between Charlottesville and Scottsville and Route 29 between Charlottesville and Lovingston. A truck reportedly jacknifed on 29 near the Highway 6 intersection. Motels, such as the Holiday Inn and Sleep Inn at the 5th Street exit on I-64 had full parking lots.

Northbound drivers in Lovingston waited for an hour or more for a salt truck escort north. The Nelson County Life blog reported about 200 cars were trapped in that area.

A Newsplex caller said Garth Road in Albemarle County is blocked just outside Charlottesville. She said many cars are lined on the road virtually to the Barricks Road Market. She said drivers are trapped in their cars and some are losing patience.