Russian Drivers Stuck in 2-Day Traffic Jam

At its worst, backup stretched 125 miles
By Evann Gastaldo,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 3, 2012 10:51 AM CST

And you thought your commute was bad: Snow in Russia caused an insane traffic jam this weekend, with thousands of cars and trucks stuck on a major highway yesterday. Some had been stuck for more than two days, as they struggled to keep their engines running and their vehicles heated, Reuters reports. Yesterday afternoon, the backup was 125 miles long, CNN reports. It had shortened to 34 miles by last night as some of the roadway between Moscow and St. Petersburg was cleared.

Even so, the length of the backup was decreasing by just three-quarters of a mile per hour, and trucks were only able to drive between 3mph and 6mph. And stuck drivers were getting gouged by nearby cafes that upped prices, while gas stations ran out of fuel and drivers complained that supplies promised from the government never reached them. (More Russia stories.)

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