Roaming deer was the biggest problem for early rush hour commuters as at least five separate incidents involving cars and bucks occurred before 6:30 a.m. And they were in the heart of the city on busy roads that included Hwy. 169 at Cedar Lake Road in the west metro, I-694 at Hwy. 5 in Oakdale and McAndrews Road at Pennock Avenue in Apple Valley.
Commuters on westbound Hwy. 13 got caught in big backup caused by a rollover crash in which a truck carrying 100 bags of sealant and rubber overturned at Yosemite Avenue. That led to a jam that extended from Washburn Avenue past the scene from 6:30 a.m. to just before 8.
Elsewhere it was a fairly routine drive into work as we had few accidents, and those we did have created only minor problems. Among the hot spots were westbound 494 at Portland Avenue and Lyndale Avenues.
At current we have a crash on the bottom of the ramp from westbound 94 to Marion Street in downtown St. Paul.
That's it for today. I'll be back Monday with more live traffic reports. Later this morning I'll post a weekend traffic primer which includes a closure of I-694 in the northern suburbs.
