STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. — Drivers on Interstate 95 in Stafford County should expect delays on the highway early Friday because of a tractor trailer fire. Virginia transportation officials said all northbound lanes were closed near Courthouse Road (Exit 140) while the scene is cleaned up. The closure lasted for several hours, into the morning commute. By 7 a.m., one left travel lane had reopened to traffic.
Virginia Department of Transportation said on social media drivers should be prepared for significant delays and use alternate routes if possible. There is no timeline for when lanes will fully reopen.
Virginia State Police say the crash happened just before 4 a.m. Troopers responded to the area for a single vehicle crash involving a tractor-trailer. According to VSP, the tractor-trailer was headed northbound when it ran off the right side of the road and collided with a guardrail attenuator. The impact caused the truck to catch fire. No injuries were reported in the crash or resulting fire. WUSA9's Lindsey Nance says drivers can take I-95 Express Lanes to get around the slowdown, or exit the interstate at Richmond Highway (Exit 136).
As of 6 a.m., VDOT was estimating about five miles of northbound congestion approaching the crash scene. Drivers on I-95 northbound that were stuck between the fire scene and the Exit 140 off-ramp are now being guided off the interstate at exit 140 to detour, VDOT said.
All lanes were completely open to drivers by around 9 a.m. Friday.