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Lanes reopened on DC-295 after repaving mishap

Crews worked all night to clean the road. It is back open as of 6 a.m. Thursday

WASHINGTON — Road crews say all lanes of DC-295 are back open following a long closure due wet tar on the roadway. Crews worked all night to get the road back open. All lanes are back open as of 6 a.m. Thursday.

Drivers  faced a long commute home after several cars were stuck in wet tar Wednesday afternoon. 

According to tweets from the DC Police Traffic account, the tar incident happened on I-295 southbound, near Benning Avenue in Northeast, causing several roadways nearby to be closed in the area Wednesday. 

A spokesperson for the DC Department of Transportation said it happened as part of a scheduled repaving project on DC-295.  

"Apparently there was some material that was getting stuck to some vehicles' tires," said Sharon Kershbaum, Deputy Director of the District Department of Transportation.

Kershbaum said DDOT is researching to figure out exactly what happened, as they used materials that are commonly used in repaving, both here and in other jurisdictions. 

"We think there was something about the application technique that was done," Kershbaum said. "Until we understand more we are going to pause the use [of that technique] and repave in a more standard way."

Kershbaum said the asphalt wasn't the problem, but the material underneath, known as a void reducing asphalt membrane, and its application process. 

Kershbaum stressed they are still working to figure out exactly what happened.

Kershbaum said those who had issues with tires should contact the District's Office of Risk Management to file a claim.

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