Debris scattered across the highway from Alexandria in Virginia to Ritchie-Marlboro Road in Prince George’s County, Maryland, caused problems on the Capital Beltway’s Outer Loop for a number of drivers Tuesday morning.
WTOP Traffic Reporter Jack Taylor reports “upwards of two dozen” drivers had flat tires.
In some cases, the vehicles had more than one flat.
“Be very careful,” Taylor said as the problem was going on, adding that a quarter of the Outer Loop was affected.
ADVISORY: I-495 Beltway Outer Loop from #Alexandria thru #Largo, debris causing dozens of flats!! #VaTraffic #MdTraffic #DCTraffic
Traffic🔗 https://t.co/nb3VFR1abs
Listen 🔗 https://t.co/KpJlqpKxN7 pic.twitter.com/eecHWm0roJ— WTOP Traffic (@WTOPtraffic) April 20, 2021
The problems began before 5 a.m.
Initially, problems were reported in Prince George’s County from Temple Hills to Largo. Then, reports of problems started coming in from Virginia.
Around 6 a.m., multiple vehicles were on both shoulders of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge with flats. A tractor-trailer was among the vehicles with flats, WTOP Traffic said.
ICYMI: I-495 Beltway Outer Loop from Alexandria to Largo = dozens of flats, on both shoulders, after metal debris spill. #Alexandria at Wilson Bridge #VaTraffic #MdTraffic #DCTraffic
Traffic🔗 https://t.co/nb3VFR1abs
Listen 🔗 https://t.co/KpJlqpKxN7 pic.twitter.com/sQVNEi7DD8— WTOP Traffic (@WTOPtraffic) April 20, 2021
Delays on the Outer Loop dissipated by 7 a.m.
It’s not clear what the debris is and whether the debris in Virginia is the same as the debris in Maryland.
Tina Regester, spokeswoman for the Maryland State Highway Administration, said several vehicles had struck a piece of metal on the Outer Loop near St. Barnabas Road.
WTOP has calls out to the Virginia Department of Transportation.
