Redskins fans snarl traffic at rush hour

Evening rush-hour commuters battled long delays on the Capital Beltway last night as fans flocked to FedEx Field to watch the Washington Redskins take on the Minnesota Vikings in the season’s first Monday Night Football game.

The kickoff was at 7 p.m., two hours earlier than in years past. But the earlier kickoff mixed D.C.-area commuter traffic with thousands of Redskins fans and in some cases baseball fans who headed to Camden Yards to watch the Baltimore Orioles take on the New York Yankees. That game also started at 7 p.m.

Traffic was “terrible,” said John Englehart, 45, who with his son Grant, 13, came to see the game from Chambersburg, Pa. “It took an hour and 15 minutes just to get to D.C. from Chambersburg, and then two hours to get to the stadium. It was all backed up.”

Bill Ball, 51, from Fort Washington, agreed, to some extent. “Traffic was awful, but for me it wasn’t too bad because I left early,” he said.

Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) spokesman Chuck Gischlar said the agency warned motorists, football fans and baseball fans to plan ahead for heavy traffic in Prince George’s County on game night.

“But we know people like to drive and tailgate, so we are asking them to leave early for the game,” Mr. Gischlar said.

Tailgaters are required to arrive at the games more than two hours early.

Officials also encouraged fans to use the Orange Line to the Landover Metro station or the Blue Line to the Morgan Boulevard Metro station.

Some did not listen.

Brad Stover, 42, of Tysons Corner, said it took him two hours and 30 minutes to get to FedEx Field last night.

“It was all the accidents on the George Washington Parkway and people clogging the alternate routes,” said Mr. Stover, who came late to the game. “Yes, I should have taken the Metro. Next time, I will listen to my wife.”

Those who listened to earlier warnings fared better.

“For me it wasn’t too bad,” said Diane Dawes of Lanham. “I came the back way, and I’m not telling what it is or else everyone would know.”

Arena Drive near the stadium opened three hours before the game to accommodate fans. By 7:30 p.m., most of the parking lots around the stadium were full.

“We had a little trouble finding parking,” said Marlon Perez, 52, from the District.

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