Early this morning, the Metropolitan Area Transportation Operations Coordination (MATOC) reported that there were major traffic interruptions due to a multi-vehicle collision on I-495 Southbound Outer Loop at the American Legion Bridge.
According to early accounts, the disaster had shut three right lanes, leaving only the left lane available when the incident was initially reported at 6:00 am. The ensuing traffic jams began before MD-190 (Exit 39/River Road) and lasted for almost three miles.
By 6:13 a.m., MATOC reported that things had somewhat improved, with one right lane still closed and three left lanes now open. Yet, the collision still resulted in major delays that affected locations farther down the I-495 Outer Loop. Congestion started at MD-187 (Exit 36/Old Georgetown Road) and persisted onto the I-270 Spur beyond Democracy Boulevard (Exit 1).
By 7:46 a.m., when all travel lanes were declared open, the situation had been rectified. Traffic backups were still seen at MD-187 (Exit 36/Old Georgetown Road) and before the I-270 Split, despite the crash site having been cleared.
As traffic conditions progressively improve, commuters are encouraged to exercise patience and factor in additional travel time. Additionally, drivers are urged to use traffic alerts to stay updated on any new developments and, if feasible, to think about using alternate routes. It is yet unknown whether anyone was hurt in the collision, and the cause has not been made public.
