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The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) began repair work on Thursday, May 5, 2011, on the median and left lanes of northbound Interstate 81 at mile marker 196, WHSV reports. VDOT closed the road and diverted traffic to Route 11, causing backups more than nine miles long.
Spokesperson Susan Hammond says that VDOT was lucky that one employee on his way to a meeting caught the problem, noticing a half-moon shaped area with pavement cracking that turned out to be a sinkhole. His warning allowed the VDOT to close the road and prevent disastrous accidents.
One truck driver, patiently waiting in the backup, commented on how a problem with the road can affect the balance of a big truck. He said, "The truck weighs about 33,000 pounds, and the load's about 35,000. So, with that much weight, it is really tough."
Culpeper and Fauquier County motorists are well aware of the dangers of potholes, sinkholes, and other hazards created by a degrading roadway infrastructure. An unsuspecting motorcyclist can be thrown off balance, a passenger car's tire can blow out, or a heavily loaded truck can roll over if there are dips, holes, or cracks in the pavement.
Crashes are not always caused by drivers. In some situations, the authorities responsible for road signaling, repair, and maintenance can be held accountable if you are involved in an accident caused by their negligence.
Read More About Interstate 81 Closed for Major Sinkhole Repair...
