Traffic

TRAFFIC ALERT: Serious Accident on I-66 at Glebe Road

By ARLnow.com
1/6

(Updated at 3:40 p.m.) Arlington County firefighters and paramedics responded to the scene of a serious accident on I-66 near Glebe Road.

A vehicle somehow overturned on the on-ramp from Glebe to eastbound I-66. Initial reports suggest two people were hurt in the wreck and one has potentially serious injuries.

At least one person was reported to be trapped in the vehicle after the crash, according to the fire department dispatch.

During the emergency response there were significant delays in both directions on I-66. Those delays have since mostly dissipated.

TRAFFIC ALERT: Vehicle Fire on I-395, Crash on Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

Van fire on SB I-395Several lanes of southbound I-395 are blocked due to a vehicle fire.

A van caught fire in the HOV lanes near Shirlington Circle around 2:45 p.m. The fire was extinguished by firefighters, who are still on scene examining the van’s engine compartment.

Currently, two mainline lanes and one HOV lane is squeezing by the scene, with HOV backups extending to the Pentagon.

Separately, there are currently significant delays on westbound Columbia Pike due to a reported three-vehicle crash just past Glebe Road. At least two injuries were reported in that crash, while no injuries were reported as result of the vehicle fire.

Marine Corps Marathon to Close Arlington Streets

By Andrew Ramonas

Marine Corps Marathon road closures (Image via Arlington County)

Driving and parking around Rosslyn, Crystal City and other parts of Arlington could become a particularly challenging experience later this month.

Several streets in the county are set to close to traffic for the 41st Marine Corps Marathon Sunday, Oct. 30.

The race is scheduled to start about 7:55 a.m. on Route 110 between the Pentagon and Arlington Memorial Drive. Thousands of people then are expected to run on a 26.2-mile course through Arlington and the District.

During the marathon, Crystal City is slated to have an all-day family party with moon bounces, face paintings and crafts. Rosslyn also is set to throw a finish festival with live music and a beer garden.

The Arlington County Police Department, Virginia State Police and Pentagon Force Protection Agency plan to close the following roads, starting at 3:30 a.m.:

3:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.    Marshall Drive from North Meade Street to Route 110

3:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.    North Meade Street from Marshall Drive to Lynn Street

3:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.    Route 110 from I-66 to Jefferson Davis Highway

3:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.    Wilson Boulevard from North Nash Street to Route 110

3:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.    Lynn Street from North Meade Street to Lee Highway

3:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.    Fort Myer Drive from North Meade Street to Lee Highway

3:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.    North Moore Street from Wilson Boulevard to Lee Highway

3:30 a.m.-6:00 p.m.    19th Street North from Lynn Street to North Nash Street

3:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.  N. Kent Street from Wilson Boulevard to N. 19th Street

3:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.    Route 110 ramp from Washington Blvd. to Pentagon North parking

6:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.  Lee Highway (eastbound) from Lynn Street to North Kirkwood Street

6:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.  Spout Run Parkway from southbound George Washington

Memorial Parkway (GWMP) to Lee Highway

6:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.  GWMP from Spout Run to Memorial Circle Drive

7:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Francis Scott Key Bridge (all lanes)

7:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m.  HOV lanes from 14th Street SW to HOV ramp at South Eads Street

5:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.  South Eads Street from South Rotary Road to Army Navy Drive

7:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.   Army Navy Drive from South Fern Street to 12th Street South

7:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.  12th Street South from Army Navy Drive to Crystal Drive

7:00 a.m – 4:00 p.m.  Crystal Drive from 12th Street South to 26th Street South

7:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.   Long Bridge Drive from 12th Street South to I-395

7:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.   Boundary Channel Drive from I-395 to Pentagon North Parking

7:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.  Washington Blvd. from Columbia Pike to Memorial Circle

Image via Arlington County

Arlington Ridge Road Blocked Due to Downed Tree

By ARLnow.com

Contractors cut down a Willow Oak tree in Bluemont (file photo)Update at 3:15 p.m. — The road has reopened.

A downed tree that’s resting on power lines along Arlington Ridge Road near S. Lang Street has prompted a temporary road closure.

Arlington Ridge Road is currently blocked between 23rd Street S. and S. Glebe Road while crews evaluate the situation and prepare to remove the tree.

Scanner reports suggest that the tree fell just as a bus of senior citizens was driving by. The bus  remained on the scene but no significant damage nor injuries were reported.

File photo

Terrible Evening Commute for Many

By ARLnow.com

Tonight’s evening commute was much worse than usual for many local residents.

A combination of factors — track problems on multiple Metrorail lines and a fuel spill that blocked the Outer Loop of the Beltway in Maryland — led to very crowded Metro stations and trains and very heavy traffic, particularly on I-395.

The latest Metro woes come as WMATA is reportedly considering raising fares to close a big anticipated budget shortfall.

TRAFFIC ALERT: Car Overturns on Lee Highway Near Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com
1/3

A car overturned on Lee Highway near Rosslyn during this evening’s rush hour.

The crash was reported just past 4 p.m. in the northbound lanes of Lee Highway, approaching Rosslyn, between N. Quinn and Rhodes streets. Traffic was down to one lane on Lee Highway, we’re told.

It’s unclear what caused the crash. No serious injuries were reported. A tow truck is currently on scene.

Photo (top) courtesy Eric LeKuch

Road Closures Planned for Shirlington Oktoberfest

By Tim Regan

Shirlington Oktoberfest (courtesy photo)(Updated at 2:10 p.m.) An annual beer festival will shut down some roads in Shirlington this weekend.

Capitol City Brewing Company’s annual Oktoberfest celebration will bring men in lederhosen and women in dirndls to the The Village at Shirlington (4001 Campbell Avenue) on Saturday, Oct. 1, from noon to 7 p.m.

In addition to food, drinks and fun, the party will also bring road closures. The following roads will be closed to cars from about 6 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday:

  • Campbell Avenue, from Arlington Mill Drive to S. Quincy Street
  • S. Randolph Street, from Arlington Mill Drive to the alley behind PING by Charlie Chang’s (roughly the 3000 block)

Street parking in the area will also be restricted during that time.

2016-army-ten-miler-mapThen, next Sunday, Oct. 9, runners will pound pavement near the Pentagon as part of the 32nd annual Army Ten-Miler Race.

The following road closures will take effect when the race kicks off next week:

  • Route 110 between Rosslyn and Crystal City will be closed in both directions at 5:00 a.m. till approximately 2:00 p.m. (Use the George Washington Memorial Parkway as an alternative)
  • Eads Street from Army Navy Drive into the Pentagon/ northbound I-395 HOV lanes will be closed at 5:00 a.m.
  • I-395 southbound HOV exit to S. Eads Street / Pentagon south parking lot will be closed at 5:00 a.m.
  • I-395 HOV northbound from Crystal City to the 14th Street Bridge will be closed at 6:00 a.m.
    Route 27 in both directions from George Washington Memorial Parkway to I-395 will be closed from 7:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
  • Army Navy Drive from S. Eads Street to S. 12th Street from approximately 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
    12th Street from S. Eads Street to Long Bridge Drive from approximately 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
  • Long Bridge Drive will be closed from S. 12th Street to Boundary Channel Drive from approximately 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

All roads closed by the marathon should be reopened by 12:30 p.m., except for Route 110, which will remain closed until approximately 2:00 p.m.

UPDATED: Teen in Crosswalk Struck While Walking to School

By ARLnow.com

Map showing Lee Highway between George Mason Drive and Glebe Road

Update at 1:45 p.m. — In a statement, Arlington County Police say the teen was in the crosswalk when she was struck by a car traveling eastbound on Lee Highway.

The driver of the vehicle rendered aid to the victim and remained on scene until the arrival of police units. Sun glare was present for eastbound traffic on Lee Highway at the time of the collision and is being investigated as a contributing factor. No charges have been filed at this time. The investigation is ongoing.

Updated at 12:45 p.m. — All lanes of Lee Highway have reopened.

Earlier: Lee Highway is closed in both directions between George Mason Drive and N. Glebe Road this morning due to an investigation.

Arlington County Police say they’re investigating a collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian at Lee Highway and N. Edison Street.

A female pedestrian was struck by a driver in a sedan just after 7:30 a.m., said Arlington County Police spokeswoman Ashley Savage. She suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to the trauma center at George Washington University Hospital.

Savage said the victim has been identified as a 15-year-old girl who was walking to school at the time. The striking driver remained on scene, Savage said. The exact circumstances surrounding the crash have not yet been determined.

ACPD’s Critical Accident Team is continuing to investigate the collision and there’s still no word on how long the closure is expected to last.

Terrible Morning Traffic Persists in Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com
1/3

(Updated at 10:25 a.m.) This is at least the second morning in a row that people have called Arlington County Police to report gridlock at the intersection of Lynn Street and Wilson Blvd in Rosslyn.

The intersection is usually problematic but has been even more so recently due to construction on the Central Place project, which has blocked 1-2 left lanes of Lynn Street for the past two years.

Officers did not respond to the intersection today, saying that little could be done to ease the traffic. A traffic detail that was assigned to the intersection last year was discontinued, the department said, because it did not receive funding for it.

ACPD spokeswoman Ashley Savage said that officers will be dispatched to the intersection as needed, but will not be assigned there on a regular basis.

Arlington offers were posted at a different intersection today — Washington Blvd and N. Utah Street, in the Ballston area — for high-visibility pedestrian and traffic enforcement. Despite a painted crosswalk, the intersection has been deemed a particularly dangerous one due to past crashes as well as fast-moving traffic and a high volume of pedestrians crossing the street.

‘Terrible Traffic Tuesday’ is Pretty Bad, As Usual

By ARLnow.com

"Terrible traffic Tuesday" road conditions at 8:45 a.m. on 9/6/16

Unsurprisingly, traffic is pretty heavy for this morning’s rush hour.

In the D.C. area, the Tuesday after Labor Day is sometimes called “Terrible Traffic Tuesday.” That refers to the extra cars and buses on the road due to the first day of school and most people being back from their summer vacations.

In reality, the traffic is usually worse the following Wednesday, and even worse still the week after that.

As of 8:45 a.m., there were big delays on I-395 and the southbound GW Parkway in Arlington, as per usual. So far, no major traffic issues have been reported in Arlington.

Image via Google Maps

Get Ready for the September Traffic ‘Shock’

By ARLnow.com
1/2

It’s September, which means that those who drive to work in the morning can expect to spend more time in traffic this month.

You might have heard the term “Terrible Traffic Tuesday,” which refers to the supposedly awful traffic on the Tuesday after Labor Day, when kids are back in school and workers are back from vacation.

But researchers at the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board say that Terrible Traffic Tuesday is, on average, not that terrible. The days after and the following week, however, are usually quite a bit more congested than at any time in August.

TPB dubs it the “September Shock.”

“Expect to see more traffic and increased travel times,” the organization said. “For everyday travelers, the extra delay can add up to hours of extra time spent in the car each week. Regionally, added up across all travelers, it amounts to a drain on productivity and economic competitiveness.”

“The annual jump is so consistent from year to year that the TPB analysts say it’s one of the most predictable and pronounced traffic events the region sees. Their analysis also revealed that September is consistently one of the region’s top two or three worst traffic months.”

TPB’s full report is available online.

One interesting and perhaps counterintuitive observation: the increase in traffic is “mainly a morning phenomenon” — there’s only a relatively small increase in traffic during the afternoon rush hour.

Maps provided by TPB show that in Arlington, the most severe increases in traffic congestion — upwards of 50 percent increases travel times — typically happen later in the morning rush hour, around 8-10 a.m., on major routes near the Potomac River crossings into D.C.

View More Stories