WASHINGTON — High Occupancy Vehicle restrictions on southbound Interstate 270 in Maryland have been lifted Friday morning after massive delays caused by difficulties in clearing overnight roadwork.

Dave Buck, spokesman for the Maryland State Highway Administration, told WTOP that crews were trying to remove a large overhead sign overnight, but that “they just couldn’t get the sign broken free.”

Buck called the work “something we usually get done by 5 in the morning,” but extra equipment had to be called out, and at one point only one lane was getting by at the lane divide.

As a result, HOV restrictions were lifted on southbound 270 at 6:30 a.m., Buck and the Maryland State Police said.

All lanes were reopened at about 6:45 a.m.