Howl-O-Scream rush creates scary traffic
By Steve Vaughan svaughan@vagazette.com
JAMES CITY — While screams of terror echoed around Busch Gardens during Howl-O-Scream on Saturday night, there were likely some screams of frustration on Interstate 64.
Howl-O-Scream caused the park to reach capacity and caused traffic to back up on both the westbound and eastbound sides of Interstate 64.
While the park was only at capacity for a little over an hour, from 7 to 8 p.m., the resulting traffic jam lasted until 10:30 p.m.
Busch Gardens spokesman Kevin Crossett said Howl-O-Scream occasionally brings the park to capacity, which also happens during Christmas Town in December.
“I can’t tell you how often it happens, but it does happen occasionally,” he said. “Those are both very popular programs.”
He said that the park works with state and local police to try to minimize backups on the highway.
“We put up Facebook messages and tweeted that we were at capacity and then an hour later when we weren’t,” he said.
James City County Police Deputy Chief Steve Rubino said heavy traffic this time of year at Busch Gardens is to be expected.
“If you are planning to go there for the rest of the month, while they are doing Howl-O-Scream, be prepared for traffic delays,” he said.
Rubino said there’s less traffic the earlier guests get to the park.
“And you want to keep in mind if you go too late, they may reach capacity and close the park,” he said.
“We work with state and local police to try to manage the traffic as best we can,” Crossett said, noting that Busch Gardens has added an additional 550 parking spaces this year.
Sgt. Michelle Anaya, a spokeswoman for the Virginia State Police, said Saturday was business as usual for troopers.
“We can’t shut the interstate down, or detour anyone,” she said. “From our perspective this was just normal traffic on I-64.”
It wasn’t normal to folks stuck in it.
Lauren Krishna and her husband left Norfolk at 4:30 p.m. to drop her son off at the park, they told the Daily Press on Saturday. They said they reached their exit on I-64 at 5 p.m. and remained stuck there at 8 p.m.
“It’s a parking lot,” Krishna said. “There are cars all around us.”
At one point, Krishna said she saw a woman and two children walking along the shoulder, presumably toward the park.
“Kids would get out of their cars and stretch their legs,” she said.
On a post on Busch Garden’s Face-book page, user Chris French commented, “After sitting in bumper to bumper traffic for more than two hours I would HIGHLY recommend that Busch Gardens invest in some signage for the interstate to advise when the park is closed or at capacity.”
The Virginia Department of Transportation has to approve signs on the interstate.
By Steve Vaughan svaughan@vagazette.com
JAMES CITY — While screams of terror echoed around Busch Gardens during Howl-O-Scream on Saturday night, there were likely some screams of frustration on Interstate 64.
Howl-O-Scream caused the park to reach capacity and caused traffic to back up on both the westbound and eastbound sides of Interstate 64.
While the park was only at capacity for a little over an hour, from 7 to 8 p.m., the resulting traffic jam lasted until 10:30 p.m.
Busch Gardens spokesman Kevin Crossett said Howl-O-Scream occasionally brings the park to capacity, which also happens during Christmas Town in December.
“I can’t tell you how often it happens, but it does happen occasionally,” he said. “Those are both very popular programs.”
He said that the park works with state and local police to try to minimize backups on the highway.
“We put up Facebook messages and tweeted that we were at capacity and then an hour later when we weren’t,” he said.
James City County Police Deputy Chief Steve Rubino said heavy traffic this time of year at Busch Gardens is to be expected.
“If you are planning to go there for the rest of the month, while they are doing Howl-O-Scream, be prepared for traffic delays,” he said.
Rubino said there’s less traffic the earlier guests get to the park.
“And you want to keep in mind if you go too late, they may reach capacity and close the park,” he said.
“We work with state and local police to try to manage the traffic as best we can,” Crossett said, noting that Busch Gardens has added an additional 550 parking spaces this year.
Sgt. Michelle Anaya, a spokeswoman for the Virginia State Police, said Saturday was business as usual for troopers.
“We can’t shut the interstate down, or detour anyone,” she said. “From our perspective this was just normal traffic on I-64.”
It wasn’t normal to folks stuck in it.
Lauren Krishna and her husband left Norfolk at 4:30 p.m. to drop her son off at the park, they told the Daily Press on Saturday. They said they reached their exit on I-64 at 5 p.m. and remained stuck there at 8 p.m.
“It’s a parking lot,” Krishna said. “There are cars all around us.”
At one point, Krishna said she saw a woman and two children walking along the shoulder, presumably toward the park.
“Kids would get out of their cars and stretch their legs,” she said.
On a post on Busch Garden’s Face-book page, user Chris French commented, “After sitting in bumper to bumper traffic for more than two hours I would HIGHLY recommend that Busch Gardens invest in some signage for the interstate to advise when the park is closed or at capacity.”
The Virginia Department of Transportation has to approve signs on the interstate.
