http://www.local6.com/news/9803862/detail.html

Thousands of motorists in Honolulu were stranded in their vehicles for 14-hours after a military vehicle clipped a pedestrian bridge near a major freeway overpass, forcing officials to close the road, according to a Local 6 News report.

Officials said the traffic jam caused by the incident in the westbound lanes of the H-1 Freeway in Honolulu was the worst in Hawaii's history.

Many commuters slept in their cars overnight or just abandoned them on the freeway.

Cars were videotaped on the side of the road after overheating or running out of gas.

State engineers worked through the night to get the freeway back open. To take down the unstable bridge, crews had to chip away tons of concrete and metal.

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Nice post Martin. That could happen anywhere, and has (though maybe not the same exact circumstances). I was caught last summer on the highway, about a mile past my on-ramp for 2 hours. It took that long to go about 4 miles to the next exit... many people weren't aware that it led to a bypass, so they continued on. They probably also didn't know that it was one of the worst traffic jams in recent history around here, that it would last for another 5+ hours. They also probably weren't aware that it was another 10 miles or so to the next exit. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the traffic behind me NOT pulling off.

Anyway, it's good reason to always have an atlas, food, water, and entertainment in the car. I'm sure the emergency TP and garbage bag has been used more than once as well. <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Been there before.

Heading out of St. Louis to Kansas on I-70 when there was a multi-car accident. Sat on the highway for six hours inching along to get to an exit. The highway was sided by fences and a steeply graded, recently-turned-to-mud shoulder so the only way off was the exit.

Cars were overheating, running out of gas, breaking down and being abandoned. The RVers saved the evening for several older folks and families opening their air-conditioned rides to any who asked.

Once the six hour wait for the exit ramp was over, we discovered both of the alternate detour routes had been closed as well by accidents related to the additional traffic.

First accident occurred at 6:00PM. Highways out weren't cleared until 4:00AM.

latvija

That is probably why most of us have supplies in our vehicles, and don't let the gas tank get below half...

Aloha everyone,

The longest I heard of anyone being stuck in it was 5 1/2 hours. Still plenty long.

I was fortunate in that I was not in the downtown area that day, otherwise, I might have been stuck too.

My wife was talking to me about what happened and my response to her was that I would get off the freeway, go eat dinner and if it was still bad, probably stay overnight in a hotel.

We have pretty good traffic updates on the radio and have traffic cams that are available on tv and online. Also, the coconut wireless (grapevine, if you will) is unbelievable good and fast.

The people stuck in it the longest, were those that were too stubborn to get off the freeway. Those that got off and went to eat dinner and try again were stuck for about 2 1/2 hours.

I've gotten stuck in a traffic backup before, usually on long trips. I have to drive through PA to get to my parents house in WV and PA hasn't yet learned how to build roads and typically has to shut down large areas of highway to make emergancy repairs. I've learned that most vehicles are not equipped to handle ideling for many hours with the AC blasting. I've tried the front wheel drive minivan thing and a 2wd truck and both would have issues with the heat. The truck having a mechanical fan you could rev the enigne to get more air flow and get the temp back down but that used more gas. The minivan, being front wheel drive had electric fans so I eneded up having to turn off the A/C to keep from overheating.
My current truck I got the factory towing package so I could get the big transmission cooler sitting in front of the radiator to get the heat out of the transmission and not add it to the eninge. Most vehicles with automatic transmissions have a transmission cooler integrated with the radiator which causes the heat created by stop and go driving to heat up the engine coolant. So be sure to have either a manual transmission or install an external transmission cooler to prevent overheating. Now I can at least sit in the hot traffic with the A/C on as long as I have gas. So I'm careful to always make sure I have the tank good and full on those long trips.
I've seen quite a few people try to make U turns when traffic got backed up but the center divider on the highways is usually soft and wet, designed to trap an out of control vehicle to prevent it from getting on the other side going the wrong way. I've seen many people get stuck in this while trying to make a U turn and many a non happy Highway patrolman come to their 'rescue'. Be sure you have a 4x4 that can make it across before trying because that grass in the center hides the trap under it.

I have enough gear, food, and water in my vehicle for a comfortable 3 days, or a week in a pinch. Thanks mostly to this website, that is.... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I commute 50 miles each way. I have my cars equipped with police scanners so that I can monitor the highway patrol, the local police, and the fire departments that would be called out to road emergencies. I have also scouted out several alternate routes which aren't the most likely for the herd to use.

I consider the scanner to be essential situational awareness.

Last week when a forklift fell off a flatbed and caught fire under and underpass on my route I knew about it from 35 miles away and just went right around it. Others were caught in traffic.

Being able to hear the first responders and what they are doing is a great way to help yourself figure out what you should be doing for yourself.

Unfortunately, where we live, the police have gone to a 500Mhz Motorola Astro Digital system, which means the cheapest scanner you can get is about $500! As a firefighter, we use the same system, and it STINKS (but that's another story entirely)