D.C. police reopened southbound Interstate 295 near Benning Road in Northeast after having to close because several vehicles got stuck in wet tar from construction work.
All lanes of DC-295 were back open as of 5:25 a.m. Thursday, the District Department of Transportation said. The road had reopened at East Capitol Street just before 11 p.m., police said.
A construction crew reopened the road before it was ready after new asphalt was put down Wednesday afternoon, police said. The type of asphalt used by the contractor caused vehicles to pick up chunks of tar that gets caught in wheel beds and tires, and the cars then got stuck, police said.
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All southbound traffic was being forced off at East Capitol Street.
All lanes had been blocked between East Capitol Street and Pennsylvania Avenue SE, and the closure backed up traffic into Maryland during evening rush hour. Portions of outbound New York Avenue and Benning Road were also affected.
D.C. police opened a section of the road just before 6 p.m., but three lanes of traffic had to merge into one at the East Capitol Street exit, where drivers then looped around RFK stadium.
Police were working to remove the stuck vehicles. No injuries have been reported.
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