Traffic

Rolling Road Closures for 9/11 Motorcycle Ride

By ARLnow.com

Update at 3:30 p.m. — The ride has concluded, with the motorcylcists arriving in Pentagon City. Few residual delays remain on eastbound I-66 as a result of the rolling road closures, according to traffic cameras.  One motorcyclist who fell on the ramp from Route 110 to Army Navy Drive is receiving medial attention for non-life-threatening injuries.

About a thousand motorcyclists will be coming to Arlington tonight for the annual America’s 9/11 Ride.

The bikers are scheduled to leave the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanskville, Pa. this morning en route to Arlington, where they will be staying overnight. The motorcycle ride will enter Arlington via eastbound I-66 around 3:00 this afternoon. The ride will continue to southbound Route 110, and will end up at the Doubletree Hotel at 300 Army Navy Drive in Pentagon City.

Arlington County Police will be escorting the ride through Arlington. Officers will temporarily close on-ramps to “avoid mixing vehicles with the ride,” according to police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.

The bikers will leave for New York City from the Pentagon North Parking Lot, via northbound I-395, on Saturday morning.

Power Outage in N. Arlington

By ARLnow.com

Update at 10:20 a.m. — Power has been restored to the traffic signals along Lee Highway, according to scanner traffic.

More than 1,500 Dominion customers are reported to be without power this morning in Arlington.

The outage appears to be centered around the northwest corner of Arlington, near the border with the City of Falls Church. A number of readers have been reporting power outages and dark traffic lights along Lee Highway.

Among the traffic signals without power are those at the intersections of Lee Highway and N. Harrison Street and Lee Higway and N. Sycamore Street. The Overlee pool is closed due to the power outage, according to the pool’s Twitter account.

Dominion trucks are reported to be in the area, working to restore power.

Clarendon Blvd Drivers to Get Some Relief From Rough Stretch

By ARLnow.com

 

Drivers who use the rough stretch of Clarendon Boulevard between Courthouse and Rosslyn will get some relief in the next few weeks.

The developer behind a new residential complex that’s being built on the old Hollywood Video site is planning to smooth out some rough patches of road on Clarendon Boulevard in the area of N. Scott Street, according to Arlington County Department of Environmental Services (DES) spokeswoman Shannon Whalen McDaniel. The work is expected to be performed in about three weeks.

Arlington County does not have any paving scheduled for Clarendon Boulevard between Rosslyn and Courthouse due to a number of large construction projects in the area. The developers of those projects — including the aforementioned residential building, a new office building and a new apartment complex — are responsible for fixing the road.

“There are several development projects in the area and the developers will restore the road as projects are completed,” said DES spokeswoman Myllisa Kennedy. “Once the major projects in the area are completed, the area will be eligible to be incorporated into our annual paving program.”

Kennedy said that residents can still report potholes and other problems on the road via the county’s online reporting form, or by calling 703-228-6570.

George Mason Drive Accident Knocks Down Light Pole

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 11:30 a.m.) At least one northbound lane of George Mason Drive is reported to be blocked at N. Park Drive due to an accident.

No injuries were reported as a result of the two-vehicle accident, but a light pole was knocked down and fell into the roadway.

Police are on the scene. One northbound lane of George Mason Drive may be squeezing by the accident scene, according to a witness. It’s not clear how long it may take for crews to clean up the downed pole.

Photo courtesy David Hartogs

Vehicle Overturns on Eastbound I-66

By ARLnow.com

 

(Updated at 2:05 p.m.) An SUV overturned on eastbound I-66 between Glebe Road and Quincy Street this afternoon.

The accident happened just after 1:00 p.m. Initial reports suggest the driver of the overturned vehicle got spooked by a merging vehicle and swerved into the median. The SUV then flipped on its side.

A second vehicle that was reported to have been involved in the wreck didn’t stay on scene, but stopped further down I-66, according to scanner traffic.

Only one lane of EB I-66 is getting by the wreck at this time. No word yet on any injuries, but an ambulance was called to the scene.

SUV Runs Into the Front of Bangkok 54

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 6:20 p.m.) An out-of-control SUV struck the front of Bangkok 54 restaurant (2919 Columbia Pike) this afternoon.

The crash happened around 3:45 p.m. Damage to the building appeared to be relatively minor and confined to the front facade of the eatery. The vehicle also nicked a street tree before coming to rest between Bangkok 54 and Maruko Japanese Restaurant. A box of beer could be seen in the back of the SUV.

The driver tried to run once police arrived on scene, we’re told. He hopped a fence behind the nearby McDonald’s restaurant but was tased by police and apprehended a block or two away.

The man, who was the only occupant of the vehicle, was evaluated for minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital, where he will undergo drug and alcohol testing, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. No other injuries were reported.

Police are investigating whether the vehicle might have been stolen or used without authorization.

 

Water Main Break Closes S. Courthouse Road

By Katie Pyzyk

(Updated at 10:05 a.m.) Workers are on the scene of a water main break that has shut down part of S. Courthouse Road in the Penrose neighborhood.

Buses and cars are being re-routed away from the work, which has closed S. Courthouse Road between 6th and 8th Streets.

As of 10:00 a.m., the break itself was repaired, but workers are now filling the hole and repairing the street.

The road is expected to be closed for about two more hours, so drivers should plan on finding alternate routes until around noon.

Flooding Closes Portion of S. Joyce Street

By Katie Pyzyk

Update at 4:45 p.m. — The closed section of road has reopened.

As if the construction along S. Joyce Street weren’t enough of a headache, this morning there’s another obstacle for drivers on that stretch of road. The storms last night (Thursday) have flooded part of the street and it’s shut down.

The closure is in place from Columbia Pike to Army Navy Drive. Drivers should find alternate routes, and are reminded not to attempt driving through high water.

There’s no word on how long Joyce Street will remain closed. It could be a while, however, considering more storms are predicted for today, according to the Capital Weather Gang.

WB Route 50 Ramp to Courthouse Road Closed

By ARLnow.com

The ramp from westbound Route 50 to Courthouse Road is now closed, cutting off a key route for drivers heading from D.C. to the Courthouse area.

VDOT tells us the closure will last about 6-8 weeks while crews construct a new ramp as part of the Route 50/Courthouse Road interchange project.

As a detour, drivers are encouraged to take the Queen Street exit from WB Route 50, about a half mile before Courthouse Road. VDOT says exit signs will then direct drivers up 14th Street, to 15th Street, and finally to Courthouse Road.

Not every driver seems willing to abide the ramp closure, however. Today we spotted a minivan with diplomatic license plates that drove up to the closure, then reversed in traffic on Route 50, and weaved between a pair of orange barrels to get on to Courthouse Road.

 

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