A water main break shut down one southbound lane of South Glebe Road around rush hour tonight. There were no resulting backups on Glebe thanks to light traffic volume.
Repairs are expected to be completed this evening.
Traffic
Wednesday will not be a good day to try to skirt the HOV restrictions on I-395 or I-66. Not that any day is.
The Arlington County Police Department is coordinating with Virginia State Police, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority Police and other regional law enforcement agencies for the first “Capitol Region HOV Awareness Day” on May 5.
Police will conduct “saturation patrols” targeting HOV violators on local interstates during the morning and evening rush hours.
As part of the HOV Awareness Day campaign, authorities are also warning Virginia drivers to follow the state’s Move Over law, which requires motorists to change lanes or — if it’s not possible to change lanes — slow down when passing stopped emergency personnel. Violating the law carries a fine of up to $2,500 and/or 12 months in jail.
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Update at 7:30 a.m. — The closed southbound lane of Glebe Road has reopened.
Glebe Road is partially shut down between Columbia Pike and 8th Street South after a van crashed into a utility pole.
The force of the collision splintered the pole. Crews from Dominion power are currently working to stabilize it.
Both northbound lanes of Glebe Road are expected to remain closed until noon.
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Virginia’s governor wants to revive the effort to put toll lanes on Interstate 395.
Gov. Robert F. McDonnell said his administration has been working to breathe life into the plan to add High Occupancy Toll lanes to the highway after it was delayed last year, following a lawsuit from Arlington County officials, according to the Washington Examiner.
The suit, which last week won a federal judge’s approval to move forward, claims that during the waning days of the Bush administration state transportation officials were improperly granted a “categorical exclusion” allowing the toll lanes to be built without conducting required environmental impact studies.
County officials say the lanes will benefit mostly white residents from Stafford and Spotsylvania counties to the detriment of Arlington residents — including a high concentration of minorities — who live along the I-395 corridor.
In addition to resulting in more pollution from auto emissions, the county argues the lanes could bring more traffic to Arlington’s neighborhood streets.
Last year, then County Board Chair Barbara Favola warned traffic would inevitably back-up where the HOT lanes would end, at Eads Street, forcing drivers to exit early.
State transportation officials have long countered that argument, saying the project would bring with it the reconstruction of local intersections and would ease traffic.
Chain Bridge will be completely closed to traffic and pedestrians this weekend due to the ongoing bridge reconstruction project.
The bridge will be closed from 9:00 Friday night to 5:00 Monday morning.
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There are currently major delays on Washington Boulevard due to an incident between Route 50 and Columbia Pike. Numerous police cars and fire/EMS units are on the scene of a pedestrian who is experiencing some sort of medical emergency.
Traffic is backed up to I-395 heading north, and to North Garfield Street heading south. Police will soon start diverting southbound traffic onto Route 50.
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Traffic Lights Out in North Arlington — A number of traffic lights went out in North Arlington this afternoon due to a “circuit problem.” Generators were brought out to some of the busier intersections as Dominion Power worked on the problem. Four traffic lights were reported to be out on Fairfax Drive and three were reported out on Lee Highway and Old Dominion Drive, among others. All lights are said to be working again.
Arlington Among the Most “Bike-Friendly Cities” — Bicycling Magazine has ranked Arlington 30th in its list of the 50 most bike-friendly cities. The article inexplicably features an image of Georgetown University.
Outstanding Volunteer Award Winners Announced — Volunteer Arlington has announced the winners of its 25th annual Outstanding Volunteer Awards. The awards are given out to county government volunteers who “go above and beyond in their service.” Among the winners: Homer Ailstock, Cynthia Kellams, Brendan O’Connor, Jae Park, Alfonso Perez, Henry Phillips, Scott Vining, and Tanya Beauchamp.
TSA’s TV Studio Gets Write-Up — The Transportation Security administration has a fancy new television studio in Arlington. Government Video magazine has more on the video technology used by the TSA.
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A crash in the HOV lanes of I-395 near the exit for Shirlington is tying up rush hour traffic. Virginia State Police and Arlington paramedics are on the scene of the two-car collision. One minor injury has been reported.
A truck ran off the road, flew over a stone wall and landed in a ditch on the northbound George Washington Parkway during tonight’s evening commute. The northbound lanes of the Parkway were blocked by emergency vehicles during the rescue operation. Traffic was diverted onto Spout Run, causing significant backups.
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Update at 4:45 p.m. — A road crew has now blocked off the lane.
We spotted a big pool of standing water covering the left HOV lane of I-395 North approaching the 14th Street Bridge. At least three cars and trucks drove through it, causing a big splash but, so far, no accidents.
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Update at 6:25 p.m. — All lanes are back open.
A van flipped on its side at the exit from westbound I-66 to Route 267 (Dulles Toll Road). All lines of westbound I-66 are blocked, and traffic is being diverted onto Route 267.
Traffic on I-66 is currently backed up all the way to Glebe Road in Arlington.
Local realtor Laura Rubinchuk first alerted us to the wreck just after 5:00 p.m. via Twitter.