Traffic

Wrong Way Driver on I-395

By ARLnow.com

How exactly does this happen?

Arlington police pulled over a driver that was heading the wrong way this morning on southbound I-395, near Washington Boulevard.

After checking to make sure the car wasn’t stolen, and after making sure its owner wasn’t wanted for a crime, the officer blocked the right-hand traffic lane to allow the driver to safely turn around and head the right way.

It’s not the first time police have responded to a wrong-way driver on this stretch of highway. Back in March a wrong-way driver heading southbound in the northbound HOV lanes of I-395 collided head-on with a northbound vehicle near Arlington Ridge Road. The wrong-way driver fled the scene and the other driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

TRAFFIC ALERT — Flooding Slows Evening Commute

By ARLnow.com

Update at 7:45 p.m. — Adding to the misery on the roads: more than 2,600 Dominion customers are without power in Arlington. Many of the outages are concentrated in the area of Route 50 and Carlin Springs Road. Several traffic lights are reported to be dark as a result.

Thanks to today’s heavy rain, and the resulting flooding in Alexandria, Fairfax County and the City of Falls Church, tonight’s commute can only be described as nightmarish.

Southbound I-395, westbound I-66 and westbound Columbia Pike are all still slow through Arlington, as of 7:00 tonight. Meanwhile, WTOP just reported that the Capital Beltway has been closed at Cameron Run in Alexandria, due to flooding across the roadway.

Due to the continued threat of flooding, local residents are being encouraged to stay off the roads if at all possible.

Major Backups on Westbound I-66

By ARLnow.com

Update at 10:30 a.m. — The heavy traffic is starting to clear out, with delays now starting somewhere between Spout Run and Ballston.

It’s very slow-going on I-66 this morning. The westbound lanes are currently backed up from Rosslyn to Great Falls Street due to an accident.

The accident was earlier reported to be blocking two lanes just before the Dulles Toll Road. Significant delays remain.

The backups have spilled onto local streets, as well. Arlington police have reported a long line of cars on Fairfax Drive at the I-66 on-ramp.

Roads Blocked by Fallen Trees

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 8:40 a.m.) At least two local roads were blocked by fallen trees this morning.

Washington Boulevard was closed between George Mason Drive and N. Harrison Street, near Virginia Hospital Center, due to a large tree that fell onto the roadway overnight, taking power lines down with it. Authorities have warned that the closure could last “well into the day.”

In the North Rosslyn area, a tree fell across N. Scott Street at the intersection with Lee Highway. The road is closed while crews work to clear the debris, authorities said.

Last night, S. Barton Street in Arlington Village was also blocked by a fallen tree (see photo).

Photo courtesy Breandan M.

TRAFFIC ALERT — Major Delays on I-395

By ARLnow.com

Nearly the entire length of northbound I-395 is slow this morning, thanks in part to an accident near the 14th Street Bridge.

Crews are still in the process of cleaning up a multi-vehicle accident in the center lanes of 395, just before the Boundary Channel Drive. Police are on the scene.

Traffic clears out after the accident, but expect a nightmare commute on northbound I-395 if you get on anywhere before Pentagon City.

Flooding in D.C. Jams 14th Street Bridge

By ARLnow.com

(Updated 12:50 p.m.) The 14th Street Bridge is jammed heading into the District as flooding has blocked several major arteries into the city.

DDOT has reported the ramp to I-395 eastbound is closed at the 14th Street Bridge due to high standing water. Traffic is being directed onto 14th Street. As a result, major delays have formed across the bridge here in Virginia.

Traffic is moving very slowly approaching the bridge. Cars are backed up to Pentagon City on I-395, and police report that on-ramps in the area are also jammed. In fact, we’ve observed cars heading the wrong way on ramps to I-395 in order to get out of the backup. (See traffic camera image, above right.)

Drivers are encouraged to avoid the 14th Street Bridge if at all possible.

Three-Vehicle Accident on Southbound I-395

By ARLnow.com

Update at 1:15 p.m. — Another accident has occurred on the same stretch of highway. One minor injury has been reported.

As seems to happen quite often during heavy rains, an accident has occurred on southbound I-395 just past Washington Boulevard.

Three vehicles were involved in the accident. One vehicle ran into the guardrail on the right side of the roadway, while the other two smashed into the barrier on the left side, blocking the lefthand lane.

Currently, only two lanes are getting by the accident scene, producing a small backup.

This curvy stretch of I-395 is particularly accident-prone during rain. We’ve reported at least three accidents there this year, one of which was a roll-over accident.

Morning Poll: ‘Terrible Traffic Tuesday’ Takes its Toll

By ARLnow.com

The Tuesday after Labor Day in Washington is traditionally known as ‘Terrible Traffic Tuesday.’

The monicker, which comes from AAA Mid-Atlantic, refers to the sudden, jolting return to heavy traffic that occurs when Washingtonians return from their summer vacations and head back to work — while students in Virginia, at the same time, head back to school.

Among other traffic jams, nearly the entire length of northbound I-395 was slow this morning, from the 14th Street Bridge through Alexandria.

How was your commute, either on the roads or on transit?

TRAFFIC ALERT: Northbound GW Parkway Closed

By ARLnow.com

The northbound GW Parkway has been shut down at the Spout Run Parkway due to falling rocks in the roadway. From the county’s Office of Emergency Management:

George Washington Parkway Northbound past Spout Run Parkway, Arlington Co. VA has been closed until atleast 10 PM due to debris in Roadway (Falling rocks)

All northbound travel lanes are blocked.  Traffic is being diverted onto Spout Run Parkway to I-66 Westbound.  Delays begin near the Roosevelt Bridge, approximately 1.5 miles.  Drivers should avoid this area and take alternate routes.

Washington Blvd Closed Briefly Due to Suspicious Item

By ARLnow.com

A suspicious item prompted authorities to briefly close Washington Boulevard between I-395 and the GW Parkway around 10:00 this morning.

The item was located along the fence line of the Pentagon and Washington Boulevard, according to Pentagon Force Protection Agency spokesman Chris Layman. The item has since been cleared.

No other details are available at this time.

EB Lee Highway Shut Down Due to Downed Power Line

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 8:30 a.m.) Both lanes of eastbound Lee Highway have been closed at George Mason Drive this morning.

The closure is due to power lines that were knocked down by a tractor trailer, according to police spokeswoman Det. Crystal Nosal. Dominion is on the scene and expects to have the lines repaired by 10:30 a.m. More than 150 Dominion customers are without power in the area due to the downed lines.

Eastbound Lee Highway traffic is being diverted onto southbound George Mason Drive. Cars are not being allowed to turn left at the intersection, to ensure that traffic moves smoothly through the area.

Courtesy photo

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