UPDATE: Traffic snarled in Montgomery County

UPDATE 3:09 p.m.:
With rush hour looming, technicians in Montgomery County have yet to resolve a computer malfunction that resulted in massive traffic back ups during this morning's commute.
It seems likely that as dusk falls, commuters will face the same sea of red brake lights that greeted them at dawn, a county spokeswoman said.

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A malfunction of the system which shifts traffic lights into rush-hour mode this morning has left traffic snarled all over the county, with backups continuing long after rush-hour's end.

Problem areas reported by commuters include Rockville Pike, Old Georgetown Road south at the I-270 Spur, and the spur itself. River Road was a better route, one commuter reported, but there were still significant delays.

Normally, the timing cycling for lights at major intersections changes each rush hour to extend the time each light is green, allowing more time for traffic to flow south during the morning and to the north in the evening.

Today, for reasons as yet unclear, the automatic switch failed. It was uncertain whether the problem could be fixed before the evening rush begins.