SMASHES:Dulles Toll Road, Mass Pike Hit By Errant Trucks

The bulldozer being carried on a trailer to a construction site in Loudoun Co was measured at 11.5' wide. There is only 10' between two toll booths and a 9' width limit on the lane. The driver had an overweight permit but was supposed to use surface arterials. He said he made a wrong turn.

Damage to the plaza, the property of VDOT, was estimated at $35k.

The Mass pike had a more spectacular smash Jan 22 at its West Stockbridge plaza near the NY state line at the far western end of the turnpike. A tractor-trailer slammed into the toll booths on the far right side next to the plaza offices at almost full highway speed.

Bob Bliss of the Turnpike says it appears the driver fell asleep at the wheel because he hit the booths at about 50mph and there were no signs of skidding. The smash occurred at 3:45am and fortunately the truck hit the plaza where the booths were unmanned. One booth was totally destroyed and another badly wrecked. Concrete barriers were pushed aside and lane equipment crushed. The roof canopy collapsed in the hit section.

Two toll collectors nearby were treated for shock but otherwise were unhurt. The truck was a complete wreck and the driver was trapped in his cab for two hours but suffered only minor injuries. There’s no estimate yet of the damage.

Bliss said the Turnpike may simply tidy up the mess and not rebuild the two damaged booths. It has another seven toll lanes and these may be enough to handle traffic, especially with electronic tolling expected to be running on the whole length of the turnpike by the summer.