Location of crash on the GW Parkway (via Google Maps)
A crash involving three vehicles, one of which ran into the woods, has been reported in the southbound lanes of the GW Parkway.
The crash happened around 3 p.m., south of Key Bridge. So far, no serious injuries have been reported, but at one car was said to have gone well off the road and into a wooded area.
Southbound traffic on the Parkway is currently backed up past Spout Run
This afternoon’s wreck did not happen in the “usual spot” for rainy day crashes, on the northbound GW Parkway north of Key Bridge, but it did happen at a bend in the road amid rainy weather.
An Amazon delivery van driver struck a pedestrian, causing minor injuries, on arguably the most prominent street corner in Arlington.
The collision happened shortly before 4 p.m. at the intersection of Wilson Blvd and N. Highland Street, across from the Clarendon Metro entrance.
“At approximately 3:50 p.m. police were dispatched… for the report of a crash with injuries involving a pedestrian,” Arlington County police spokesperson Alli Shorb told ARLnow. “The pedestrian sustained minor injuries and did not require transport to the hospital. The driver of the striking vehicle remained on scene. Police remain on scene investigating.”
A traffic camera showed the stopped van blocking the intersection’s northern and eastern crosswalks.
Overturned vehicle on the northbound GW Parkway near Key Bridge (staff photo)
Overturned vehicle on the northbound GW Parkway near Key Bridge (staff photo)
Location of crash on GW Parkway near Key Bridge (via Google Maps)
A well-known spot for rainy day crashes has claimed more vehicular victims.
The crash happened around 11 a.m. on the northbound GW Parkway near Key Bridge, and involves one vehicle — which appears to be a pickup truck — on its side near the stone wall. The bend in the two-lane stretch of parkway has been the scene of repeated crashes, particularly when it rains.
This is at least the sixth such crash in this spot since June, and that only counts those that have been reported by ARLnow. Four of the six crashes involved overturned vehicles.
Initial reports suggested that the latest crash involved two vehicles, though the exact circumstances are unclear. All occupants of the overturned vehicle were able to get out before firefighters arrived on scene, according to scanner traffic.
No serious injuries were reported. Northbound traffic on the GW Parkway is currently backed up past the Roosevelt Bridge.
LOCATION: George Washington Pkwy/Key Bridge INCIDENT: Traffic Collision IMPACT: All lanes on NB George Washington Parkway are closed to traffic for a collision under the Key bridge. Seek alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/cm21xgyNg6
Flipped vehicle on S. Walter Reed Drive (photo courtesy Jennifer G.)
Only minor injuries were reported after a vehicle overturned on S. Walter Reed Drive this afternoon.
The crash happened around lunchtime, just north of the intersection with Four Mile Run Drive and near the bottom of a steep hill. All lanes of Walter Reed Drive were closed during the crash response but fully reopened by 1:30 p.m.
It’s unclear how the crash happened. No serious injuries were reported.
This is at least the second crash involving an overturned vehicle in Arlington in as many days. Yesterday a vehicle overturned on westbound I-66 at the entrance to the Rosslyn tunnel, blocking traffic for about an hour.
LOCATION: S Walter Reed Dr/ S Four Mile Run Dr INCIDENT: Traffic Collision IMPACT: Lanes are closed to north and southbound traffic on S Walter Reed Dr from S Four mile run Dr to S Randolph St. Seek alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/97c2VK0VgI
Updated at 2:45 p.m. — At least one lane has reopened as crews work to finish clearing the crash scene.
Earlier: All lanes of westbound I-66 are currently blocked at the Rosslyn tunnel due to a crash.
An SUV crashed and overturned near the entrance to the tunnel around 1:30 p.m. Police are on scene and report that the driver was able to get out of the vehicle prior to their arrival.
The crash happened near the beginning of what had been a backup between Rosslyn and the N. Glebe Road exit of I-66.
No serious injuries have been reported. Westbound I-66 traffic is being diverted to Rosslyn and drivers in the area should expect heavy traffic.
LOCATION: WB I-66 / Rosslyn Tunnel INCIDENT: Traffic Collision IMPACT: All lanes of the Rosslyn Tunnel are blocked. Please follow Police direction. pic.twitter.com/nHbQFuIf9L
VDOT has kicked off work on its I-66 Rosslyn Tunnel Rehabilitation project.
The nearly $38 million project is expected to stretch well into 2025, retrofitting the tunnel under Rosslyn’s Gateway Park that was built some 40 years ago.
The construction will prompt some lane closures on I-66, but mostly during overnight hours.
More from a VDOT press release:
Construction is underway on the rehabilitation and improvements to the Rosslyn Tunnel that carries I-66 under North Nash Street, Fort Myer Drive, North Lynn Street and Gateway Park, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. The project’s purpose is to improve safety and extend the overall life of the tunnel.
The project includes removing the existing tunnel ceiling to improve long-term maintenance; upgrading electrical systems; installing a new fireproofing system; repairing steel beams, abutment and pier concrete, and joints; cleaning and repairing bearings; and replacing the tunnel lighting system.
Lane closures on I-66 associated with the project will mainly occur overnights, with at least one lane of I-66 in each direction open at all times.
The tunnel, which opened to traffic in 1983, is nearly a fifth of a mile long and averages 64,000 vehicles a day.
The $37.7 million project is financed with state funding and is scheduled for completion in summer 2025.
For the most recent updates and to learn more, visit the VDOT project webpage.
Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians are reminded to use caution when traveling in active work zones. Be alert to new traffic patterns and limit distractions.
You can get real-time traffic, work zone and incident information online at 511virginia.org, via the free mobile 511Virginia app, or by calling 511 in Virginia anywhere anytime.
Amid rainy weather, a vehicle crashed and overturned on the northbound GW Parkway near Key Bridge, at a bend in the road that — as we reported yesterday — has been the scene of numerous crashes. This is at least the third crash at that location in the past three days.
The crash occurred shortly before 8:45 a.m. The driver was able to get out of the overturned vehicle and no serious injuries have been reported, according to scanner traffic.
Drivers should expect significant backups on the northbound GW Parkway south of the bridge as a result of the crash.
Many commuter routes in Arlington are currently experiencing heavy traffic due to the rain, crashes, and — in the case of inbound traffic heading over the Key Bridge — a demonstration in D.C.
ADVISORY: In NW, M St is BLOCKED btwn 34th and 33rd Streets by demonstration. AVOID #Georgetown#NWDC#DCTraffic
LOCATION: NB Glebe /SB Glebe INCIDENT: Traffic Collision IMPACT: Traffic is closed due to a vehicle blocking the ramp to I-395 at the intersection of North Glebe Road and South Glebe Road. Seek alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/rg9kURbQ4A
We’ve heard from many that Wednesdays have become the busiest commuting days of the week. Throw in some rain on our roads, a few accidents, and this is what we get. Back to soul-crushing traffic @nbcwashington#dctrafficpic.twitter.com/29tcj2riSv
All lanes of eastbound I-66 lanes approaching Rosslyn were closed tonight due to a crash.
A car crashed and overturned shortly after 8:30 p.m. No serious injuries were reported but traffic was diverted onto Langston Blvd while crews worked to clean up the crash scene.
Vehicle crash on the northbound GW Parkway near Key Bridge on Sunday (photo courtesy Alan Henney)
It’s almost as automatic as Steph Curry draining free throws at this point.
Whenever there’s a soaking rainfall, it seems that some drivers cannot help but slide off the road at a certain bend in the northbound GW Parkway near Key Bridge, sometimes flipping their cars in the process.
One such overturned vehicle crash happened during last night’s commute, shutting down the northbound lanes for nearly an hour.
LOCATION: NB GW Pkwy / Key Bridge INCIDENT: Traffic Collision IMPACT: One vehicle overturned and in the roadway NB GW Pkwy just before Key Bridge. Seek alternate route. pic.twitter.com/FAx7KDP8uK
And that was just the most recent crash during our current rainy stretch.
Over the weekend, police responded to at least one single-vehicle crash in the same spot.
ANOTHER PARKWAY CRASH— from just before 5:30 p.m. on n/b George Washington Memorial Pky on curve prior to Key Bridge. Single-vehicle crash with one patient with minor cut to the head. US Park Police have responded to several similar crashes today on area parkways. @ARLnowDOTcompic.twitter.com/giLCQVPtOs
A crash with an overturned vehicle that snarled morning rush hour traffic in June 2019
The crashes have, over time, pockmarked the stone wall along that stretch of the Parkway. The wrecks also inspired a Mike Mount cartoon earlier this year.
While this particular bend is arguably the most crash-prone section of the Parkway in Arlington, other sections have seen recent crashes, including the southbound lanes near Memorial Bridge earlier this morning.
#DC: SB GW Pkwy after the Memorial Bridge – vehicle off road to the right. Watch for response/tow truck along the right side #DCtraffic
The National Park Service, which is responsible for maintaining the Parkway, recently kicked off a major rehabilitation project for the busy commuter route. However, that work is taking place north of both sections referenced above — from Spout Run Parkway to I-495.
Short of potential future safety improvements, the best way for drivers to avoid crashes may be to simply slow down, particularly in rainy weather.
Car goes vertical in the Arlington Mill neighborhood (photo courtesy anonymous)
The Arlington Mill neighborhood was the scene of one of the more unusual crashes in recent memory yesterday afternoon.
Just before 4 p.m. Sunday, police and firefighters were dispatched to the intersection of 8th Road S. and S. Florida Street for the report of a single-vehicle crash involving an older Toyota Camry and an elderly driver. One of the first arriving units reported the car “completely up on the telephone pole, a good 10 feet in the air.”
It appeared that the driver somehow backed up onto the guy-wire of a utility pole with enough force for the beige Toyota to get suspended vertically.
Thankfully, no one was injured, we’re told, and little damage was evident in a photo sent to ARLnow.
“The driver was out [of the car] prior to our arrival,” said Arlington fire department spokesman Capt. Nate Hiner. “I can’t speak to the cause or how it happened.”
American flag over the start of the Arlington 9/11 Memorial 5K in 2017
(Updated at 3 p.m.) A pair of large events are planned for Saturday, resulting in road closures in Rosslyn and the Crystal City area.
First up, the Rosslyn Jazz Fest, scheduled from 1-7 p.m. in Gateway Park, will close the following roads from 7 a.m.-10 p.m.
EB Langston Boulevard, from Fort Myer Drive to N. Moore Street
Fort Myer Drive driveway access, from 19th Street N. to N. Moore Street
“Traffic is expected to be impacted in the area and motorists should seek alternate routes to reduce road congestion,” the Arlington County Police Department said. “Attendees are encouraged to use Metro and other forms of multimodal transportation. The Rosslyn Metro Station (Orange, Silver, and Blue lines) is located within walking distance to the event.”
Later that day, a more extensive set of road closures will be put in place between 3-5 p.m. for the 20th Annual Arlington Police, Fire, Sheriff, & ECC 9/11 Memorial 5k race.
From a police press release:
The Arlington County Police Department will close the following roadways around the Pentagon and in Crystal City to accommodate the event:
From approximately 3:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.
Army Navy Drive, from S. Eads Street to 12th Street S.
From approximately 5:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.
S. Eads Street, from Army Navy Drive to 12th Street S.
S. Fern Street, from Army Navy Drive to 12th Street S.
S. Hayes Street, from Army Navy Drive to 12th Street S.
Army Navy Drive, from S. Joyce Street to S. Eads Street
S. Joyce Street, from Army Navy Drive to Columbia Pike
Columbia Pike, from S. Oak Street to Washington Boulevard
S. Washington Boulevard, from Arlington Boulevard to Columbia Pike
S. Washington Boulevard, from SB George Washington Parkway
Route 110 S., from I-66 and Wilson Boulevard to Army Navy Drive
Marshall Drive, from Iwo Jima Access Road to Route 110 S.
Southgate Road, from Oak Street to Columbia Pike
The ramp to Army Navy Drive from NB I-395 Exit 8A, Arlington Ridge Road, and N. Washington Boulevard
The ramp from NB I-395 Exit 8C to Pentagon City / Crystal City
“Race attendees and spectators are encouraged to use Metro or other forms of multimodal transportation,” said the release. “The Pentagon City Metro Station (Blue and Yellow lines) and Crystal City Metro Station (Blue and Yellow lines) are located within walking distance to the racecourse. Paid parking is available at the Pentagon City Mall garage for those choosing to drive.”
Street parking in the area of both events will be restricted, with temporary “No Parking” signs placed along various streets, police said.
There’s also a third major event that will be coming through the county Saturday morning: the D.C. Bike Ride, the route for which goes over the 14th Street Bridge and loops around near the Pentagon.
