Traffic

Columbia Pike Scheduled to Close This Weekend

By ARLnow.com

State transportation officials say that despite the effects from Superstorm Sandy, a total closure of Columbia Pike at Washington Boulevard is still planned for this coming weekend.

The Pike will be closed between S. Quinn Street and S. Orme Street from 9:00 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 2 to 4:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 5. The closure will be in place while crews demolish part of the Washington Boulevard bridge over the Pike as part of VDOT’s ongoing interchange project.

“Motorists on Columbia Pike will follow detour signs as will motorists heading from Washington Boulevard to Columbia Pike,” VDOT said in an email. “The closure is part of the bridge replacement project at Washington Boulevard (Route 27) and Columbia Pike. Visit the VDOT project page for more information.”

Vehicle Flips Over on Washington Blvd Near I-395

By ARLnow.com

(Update at 2:40 p.m.) A vehicle flipped on its side on westbound Washington Boulevard this afternoon.

The accident occurred just past noon between I-395 and Columbia Pike, near the scene of a wreck that happened last week. A red vehicle — a Ford minivan or SUV with D.C. tags — somehow flipped on its side on a downhill stretch of Washington Boulevard near the VDOT maintenance yard. Temporary jersey barriers were in place near where the accident took place, apparently for the Washington Blvd/Columbia Pike bridge project.

One occupant suffered a shoulder injury as a result of the single-vehicle accident, according to scanner traffic. A tractor trailer was stopped near the wreck, but had no apparent damage.

The stretch of Washington Boulevard was closed for about an hour but reopened around 1:15 p.m.

 

TRAFFIC ALERT — Serious Accident on I-395

By ARLnow.com

Update at 9:20 a.m. — NB I-395 has partially reopened.

(Update at 8:40 a.m.) Traffic on northbound I-395 is completely blocked following a serious multi-vehicle accident near Crystal City.

Three vehicles are involved, according to Arlington County Police spokesman: a Toyota Corolla, a white van and a box truck. The white van rolled on its side, trapping its two occupants, Sternbeck said. Both have since been extricated from the vehicle and are being transported to a local hospital.

Three ambulances have been requested to the scene for two to three reported injuries. The van was said to be carrying propane tanks, but no hazmat response was required.

I-395 northbound is completely blocked at Route 110. Traffic is being diverted onto the HOV lanes of 395.

Car Drives Through Yard, Across Street, into Front of Building

By ARLnow.com

An elderly driver was involved in a bizarre accident near Crystal City this afternoon.

The accident happened around 4:00 p.m. on the 700 block of 23rd Street S. Witnesses say an elderly driver in a white sedan pulled out of a commercial driveway, slammed into the side of passing minivan, continued driving across the street and into the front yard of Linden Resources, then back across the street and into the front of a small office building.

The elderly male driver seemed shaken up by his car’s airbag but not seriously injured, witnesses said. He was transported via ambulance to a local hospital. No other injuries were reported.

The office building, which houses NATO offices among other tenants, did not suffer any significant, apparent damage. Linden Resources’ flower bed was torn up and its front walkway railing was knocked over.

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Delays on I-395 Following Accident in HOV Lanes

By ARLnow.com

Drivers should expect significant delays on southbound I-395 following an accident in the HOV lanes.

Initial reports suggest the accident involved an off-duty police officer in his or her personal vehicle. The HOV lanes are partially blocked near Glebe Road as a result of the accident. HOV traffic is getting by on the shoulder.

At least one mainline southbound and northbound lane of I-395 is also blocked. Southbound traffic is currently slowing near the Pentagon.

Wreck Involving Taxi on Washington Boulevard

By ARLnow.com

A D.C. taxicab somehow went up a steep embankment, ran into and partially went over a guardrail on Washington Boulevard this afternoon.

The accident happened around 1:00 p.m. on the section of Washington Boulevard between I-395 and Columbia Pike. Initial reports suggest the taxi was heading northbound from I-395 to Washington Boulevard when it ran up an embankment and into the guardrail along the southbound lanes of Washington Boulevard.

It’s unclear how the accident happened, although initial reports suggest another vehicle might have been involved in the accident; that vehicle suffered only minor damage.

The driver of the Ford Crown Victoria cab was extricated by firefighters and taken to a local hospital, according to scanner traffic. Traffic on Washington Boulevard was backed up as crews worked to remove the cab from the guardrail.

 

Road Closures, Events Planned for Marine Corps Marathon

By ARLnow.com

Preparations are underway in Rosslyn, Crystal City and elsewhere in Arlington for the 37th Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 28.

The race will start at about 7:55 a.m. and the 26.2 mile course, which winds through Arlington and the District, will close at 3:00 p.m. During the marathon, Crystal City will be hosting an all-day family festival, complete with moon bounces, face painting, obstacle courses and live DJs. Rosslyn will be hosting the marathon’s finish festival, featuring live bands, a beer garden and free massages for runners.

The Arlington County Police Department is planning to close the following roads and highways to make way for the 30,000 runners expected to participate in the race.

  • 4:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Route 110 ramp from Washington Boulevard to Route 110
  • 4:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Marshall Drive from N. Meade Street to Route 110
  • 4:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Route 110 from I-66 to U.S. Highway 1
  • 4:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. N. Meade Street from Marshall Drive to Lynn Street
  • 4:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Wilson Boulevard from N. Nash Street to Route 110
  • 4:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Lynn Street from N. Meade Street to Lee Highway
  • 4:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Fort Myer Drive from N. Meade Street to Lee Highway
  • 4:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. N. Moore Street from Wilson Boulevard to Lee Highway
  • 4:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. 19th Street N. from Lynn Street to N. Nash Street
  • 7:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Lee Highway eastbound from Lynn Street to N. Kirkwood Street
  • 7:00 a.m. – 9:25 a.m. Spout Run Parkway from Lee Highway to GW Memorial Parkway
  • 7:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m. GW Memorial Parkway from Spout Run to Key Bridge off ramp
  • 7:45 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Army Navy Drive from S. Eads Street to 12th Street S.
  • 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. 15th Street S. from Crystal Drive to Eads Street
  • 7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 12th Street from Army Navy Drive to Crystal Drive
  • 7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Crystal Drive from 12th Street to 23rd Street
  • 7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Long Bridge Drive from 12th Street to N. Boundary Channel Drive
  • 7:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. N. Boundary Channel Drive from I-395 ramps to Washington Boulevard

Temporary parking restrictions will also be in place along the marathon route.

Flickr pool photo by BrianMKA

Local Roads, Highways to Close for Army Ten Miler

By ARLnow.com

A number of local roads and highways in south Arlington will be closed Sunday morning for the running of the 28th annual Army Ten-Miler race.

The race starts and ends near the Pentagon but the course also takes participants into the District. More than 30,000 runners are expected to participate. Runners and spectators are being encouraged to take Metro to get to the race.

From an ACPD press release:

The Arlington County Police Department will close several streets near the Pentagon on Sunday, October 21, 2012, for the 28th Annual Army 10-Miler race. The race begins at 8:00 a.m. on Route 110, crosses the Potomac River into the District of Columbia, returns to the Commonwealth via the I-395 HOV lane and ends in the Pentagon north parking lot.

The following roads in Arlington will be impacted:

  • Route 110 between Rosslyn and Crystal City will be closed in both directions at 5:00 a.m. (motorists should use the George Washington Memorial Parkway as an alternative.)
  • I-395 HOV northbound from Crystal City to the 14th Street Bridge will be closed at 6:00 a.m.
  • S. Eads Street from Army Navy Drive into the Pentagon and northbound I-395 HOV lanes will be closed at 5:00 a.m.
  • I-395 southbound HOV exit to S. Eads Street and the Pentagon south parking lot will be closed at 5:00 a.m.

All of the roads should be reopened by noon.

In addition, access to the Pentagon north parking lot will be restricted to “Authorized Vehicles Only” from 4:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Parking for Pentagon employees and Pentagon Memorial patrons will be available in the south parking lot via Columbia Pike and S. Fern Street.

Runners, spectators and support personnel are encouraged to use Metro, as parking is limited. The Pentagon and Pentagon City stations on the Blue and Yellow Lines are located within walking distance of the start and finish lines.

ACPD Reminding Rosslyn Drivers Not to ‘Block the Box’

By ARLnow.com

The Arlington County Police Department is embarking on a public education campaign to get drivers to stop blocking intersections and crosswalks on Lynn Street in Rosslyn.

Starting this week, the police department has assigned extra traffic patrols to the area during the morning rush hour, when gridlock gets especially bad on Lynn Street. (Although traffic is often heavy during the evening rush hour, as well.)

The officers will remind drivers that it’s illegal to block the box — to enter into an intersection during a green light when there is no room to clear the intersection. For now, the officers will not be issuing citations, according to ACPD spokesman Dustin Sternbeck, who called morning congestion on Lynn Street a “disaster.”

“You should expect to see additional police presence in that area,” Sternbeck said. “We’re hoping in the immediate future that this education campaign will get people to change their behavior. Hopefully we can make an impact there, because it’s been a concern for a long time.”

In support of the campaign, the Transportation Engineering and Operations Bureau of Arlington’s Department of Environmental Services will be installing “Do Not Block Intersection” signs at all of the intersections along N. Lynn Street between Wilson Boulevard and the Key Bridge. Existing Do Not Block Intersection signs at N. Lynn Street and Wilson Boulevard, meanwhile, will be replaced with larger versions of the sign.

“The signs are currently being fabricated and should be installed within the next three (3) weeks,” said DES spokeswoman Myllisa Kennedy. In addition to the signs, this coming spring DES will be installing pavement markings at the Wilson Boulevard and Lynn Street intersection which are intended to “help define the ‘box.'”

Lynn Street serves commuters heading to the GW Parkway, I-66 and D.C. via the Key Bridge.

Crash Involving Ambulance Near Ballston

By ARLnow.com

A private ambulance and another vehicle collided this afternoon in the Waycroft-Woodlawn neighborhood, near Ballston.

The accident happened at the intersection of Washington Blvd and N. Buchanan Street, approximately five blocks from Virginia Hospital Center. No word on the cause of the crash nor on whether there were any injuries.

The ambulance, marked “Physicians Transport Service,” suffered front end damage and had to be towed away. The other vehicle, said to be BMW, was also carted away via tow truck. A street sign at the intersection was down, but it’s unclear if it was knocked down as a result of the accident.

Hat tip to @BrianKal

 

UPDATE (3): Restaurant Fire on Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

Updated at 3:10 p.m. — Columbia Pike has reopened to traffic, according to scanner reports.

(Updated at 2:45 p.m.) Columbia Pike has been shut down between Walter Reed Drive and S. Courthouse Road as a result of a working fire at a restaurant.

Firefighters arrived on scene at 2520 Columbia Pike around 2:10 p.m., for a fire in the kitchen of the Top’s China takeout restaurant. As of 2:45 p.m., the fire was extinguished and firefighters were checking for remaining hot spots, according to ACFD spokesman Capt. Gregg Karl.

The numerous shops in the strip shopping center in which Top’s is located have been evacuated, Karl said.

Photos courtesy @taylorcarson, @cmags44, @kochimom

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