MassDOT says blasting operations left rocks on the highway, causing lanes to close as crews cleaned up debris.
Two lanes of Interstate 495 south in Wrentham were closed Tuesday afternoon after rock blasting work left debris in the road, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation said.
The work has been going on Mondays through Thursdays since Feb. 24.
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MassDOT did not say when the debris ended up in the roadway, but explained that the two rightmost lanes were closed until 4:20 p.m. Tuesday as cleanup work was conducted.
"It's just that you'd never think it would happen. Like, if they're blasting those rocks, they must know what they're doing. But clearly they didn't, because they ended up on the road," said Robert Conrad, who was stuck in traffic for two hours.
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"It's been going on for weeks, and we drive by there a lot, and we were wondering what's going on," said passenger Robin Conrad. "We need answers, because it's just too dangerous."
Images posted to social media showed road crews beside rocks that had tumbled into the roadway. Aerial footage later showed traffic passing normally, but rocks remained along the shoulder.
In an update Wednesday morning, MassDOT said during Tuesday's blasting operations, "a larger than expected debris field was unintentionally created," leading to temporary lane closures so crews could remove rocks from the roadway. They said blasting work at the location is currently suspended "pending an after-action report" from the contractor.
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No one was injured, and no penalties or fines have been levied against the contractor.
