LOCATION: NB George Washington Pkwy south of Fort Marcy INCIDENT: Traffic Collision IMPACT: The NB lanes of George Washington Pkwy are reopened. pic.twitter.com/USlFg0zmrn
Earlier: Northbound lanes of the GW Parkway are closed for an investigation after a serious crash.
The crash happened along the Parkway, just north of N. Glebe Road, around 5:30 p.m.
One person was trapped in a vehicle and rescued by firefighters. They were brought via ambulance to a local hospital.
The northbound lanes were still closed as of 6:15 p.m. and are expected to remain closed for an extended period of time for a crash investigation, according to U.S. Park Police. Traffic is being diverted onto Spout Run Parkway.
Units are on scene of a vehicle crash NB GW PKWY prior to N. Glebe Rd. Expect significant traffic impacts both North and South as crews operate. pic.twitter.com/lqAthnsuqj
— Arlington Fire & EMS (@ArlingtonVaFD) June 2, 2022
#Final – the patient has been extricated and is being transported to an area hospital. Units from ACFD and @ffxfirerescue are in the process of clearing the scene.
— Arlington Fire & EMS (@ArlingtonVaFD) June 2, 2022
Traffic alert: Northbound George Washington Memorial Parkway diverted at Spout Run Parkway for a traffic crash investigation.
Traffic on northbound GW Parkway due to crash (via Google Maps)
Update at 1:45 p.m. — The crash has been cleared and the lanes reopened.
Earlier: Traffic from the northbound GW Parkway is being diverted onto Spout Run Parkway due to a crash.
A crash and reported fire has closed the Parkway’s northbound lanes at the first scenic overlook in Arlington. Drivers caught between the crash and Spout Run are sitting at a standstill.
So far there’s no additional word on the nature of the crash or on injuries.
Traffic Alert: Northbound George Washington Memorial Parkway diverted to Spout Run Parkway for crash in the area of scenic overlooks.
Crash on the GW Parkway in 5/24/22 (courtesy anonymous)
Backup from crash on the GW Parkway in 5/24/22 (via Google Maps)
A particularly sharp bend in the GW Parkway near Key Bridge has claimed another vehicular victim
An SUV overturned in the southbound lanes around 1:15 p.m., blocking all lanes and causing a backup that still extends as far north as the Windy Run bridge as of 2 p.m. The driver was able to get out on their own after the crash and was evaluated for injuries by Arlington medics.
Reported as a single-vehicle crash, it happened amid rainy weather in a part of the Parkway that has seen numerous crashes in both directions. It appears that this afternoon’s crash damaged temporary concrete barriers set up in front of the permanent wooden barriers that had been damaged by a previous crash.
Arlington firefighters and U.S. Park Police both responded to the scene. Continued southbound delays are expected until crews can complete the clean up process.
Update at 2:55 p.m. — The earlier closure has been lifted and delays have dissipated.
The U.S. Air Force Memorial and surrounding construction at twilight (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Cristol Calls Out Displacement ‘Lie’ — “Time will tell, as it always does, but Arlington elected officials say the public and some activists are mistaken if they believe there will be wholesale displacement of residents of the Barcroft Apartments complex in South Arlington. At a May 14 meeting, County Board Chairman Katie Cristol – not one normally known for getting rattled while on the dais – decried as a ‘lie’ the displacement rumors at the sprawling, 1,334-unit apartment complex.” [Sun Gazette]
Crash Last Night on GW Parkway — From Alan Henney: “Another auto went over the wall on the northbound side of the GW Pky prior to the Key Bridge in Arlington. Amazingly driver is out uninjured after his auto slid down the embankment.” [Twitter]
Marymount University Commencement — From Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the U.S.: “It was my tremendous privilege to give the commencement at @marymountu, a university that like many around the U.S. hosts Saudi students. It was my absolute honor to receive an honorary doctorate, thank you to the faculty and Dr. Becerra for this special day.” [Twitter, Sun Gazette]
Metro CEO and COO Resign — “The WMATA Board of Directors has accepted Paul Wiedefeld’s decision to make his retirement effective today. In addition, Chief Operating Officer Joe Leader has resigned, effective immediately.” [WMATA, DCist]
New Skyline Development Proposal — “Madison Marquette has filed plans to convert two Baileys Crossroads office building into live/work lofts, advancing a vision to resuscitate the huge multibuilding cluster known as Skyline Center. By repurposing the mostly emptied office spaces — which meet planning and code requirements to serve as apartments and/or offices for small firms — Skyline can once again become ‘the gravitational center for the area.'” [Washington Business Journal]
Body Cams for Falls Church Police — “Police officers with the City of Falls Church will now be equipped with body-worn cameras beginning this month.” [WJLA, City of Falls Church]
It’s Tuesday — Clear throughout the day. High of 77 and low of 59. Sunrise at 5:55 am and sunset at 8:17 pm. [Weather.gov]
A kite stuck up a tree in Rosslyn (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
Another Malfunctioning Walk Signal — Just over a week after this, another reported crosswalk signal issue: “Instead of telling you when it’s safe to cross the street, the walk signs in Crystal City, VA are just repeating ‘CHANGE PASSWORD’. Something’s gone terribly wrong here.” [Twitter]
School Board Meeting Was Mostly Maskless — “For those playing the ‘how many Arlington School Board members will go mask-free at the first board meeting after requirements were lifted?’ home game, the winners were those who had put their money on four out of five. Board members David Priddy, Cristina Diaz-Torres, Reid Goldstein and chairman Barbara Kanninen were maskless at the March 10 meeting, as was Superintendent Francisco Durán. School Board member Mary Kadera kept her mask affixed.” [Sun Gazette]
Survey Work on GW Parkway — ” A $161 million ‘complete rehabilitation‘ of the northern section of the George Washington Memorial Parkway is being planned… Through Friday, March 18, there will be single-lane closures along the northern section of the George Washington Memorial Parkway for bridge surveys. Drivers should proceed with caution in these areas and consider using alternate routes, according to an NPS alert.” [WUSA 9]
Arlington Doc Helping Refugees — “An Arlington doctor is not only battling the pandemic in Northern Virginia, but he also travels across international borders to help those in need. The current refugee crisis that began with Afghans in 2021, now includes Ukrainians facing a similar fate of displacement and an uncertain future. For three years before COVID-19 spread across the globe, Dr. Ali Karim helped build wells in Nigeria, aided orphans and women in Kabul, Afghanistan and filmed a documentary about his solo journey.” [WJLA]
Days Inn Redevelopment Update — “The plans to replace the Days Inn at 2201 Arlington Boulevard with 262 multi-family units and around 3,000 square feet of retail were filed with Arlington County last week. The eight-story project will also have surface and underground parking. STUDIOS Architecture designed the building.” [Urban Turf]
Social Sports Return to Crystal City — “Sand Volleyball is BACK in National Landing starting this May with a few fun new additions – Bocce and Corn Hole!” [Twitter]
Yes, It’s Getting Windier — “Our analysis of wind data shows that the strongest gusts have become more frequent recently. Last year featured more big wind gusts than any recent year, a trend that has continued into this year. Wind advisories, issued by the National Weather Service when gusts are expected to top 45 mph, have also been on the increase since the mid-2000s.” [Capital Weather Gang]
It’s Tuesday — Mostly cloudy throughout the day. High of 66 and low of 40. Sunrise at 7:21 am and sunset at 7:17 pm. [Weather.gov]
Overturned vehicle and police activity on the Spout Run entrance from the GW Parkway (Photo courtesy @airwolf782)
A vehicle possibly involved in a robbery in Georgetown has overturned on the GW Parkway.
The wreck happened around 3:15 p.m. in the northbound lanes of the Parkway, near Spout Run, leaving the vehicle on its roof.
Two occupants are out and said to be in police custody. An Arlington police K-9 unit was dispatched to the scene, initially to search for a person still believed to be on the run, though it’s unclear whether that is still the case.
Firefighters and medics, as well as police from several jurisdictions, are now on scene.
Public safety watcher Alan Henney reports that the people in custody are suspects in a robbery of an optical store in D.C.’s Georgetown neighborhood. There have been a number of such robberies across the region in recent months, including at least two in Arlington.
The exit from the northbound GW Parkway to the Spout Run is currently closed as a result of the emergency activity.
Per @alanhenney this was a Buick driven by suspects fleeing a robbery in Georgetown, who then wrecked. ACFD did report to dispatch that at least one person was in police custody. https://t.co/MGsBH0KQJk
Update: Two of the suspects are in custody here at the crash scene. One was injured in rollover. Police searching for evidence at crash. No word on the other three remaining suspects. @ARLnowDOTcomhttps://t.co/rSdYvSFmkj
LOCATION: NB GW Park wat at Spout Run INCIDENT: Police Department Activity IMPACT: The NB exit lane is closed due to police activity. Seek alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/elpmzoxbnm
Closure due to crash on the GW Parkway (via Google Maps)
(Updated at 2:50 p.m.) Northbound lanes of the GW Parkway were closed before Key Bridge today due to a serious crash.
The crash happened shortly before 11:45 a.m. and reportedly involved a vehicle that ran off the side of the roadway and overturned, injuring several people.
Northbound traffic was at a near-standstill for nearly a mile, between the Roosevelt Bridge and the crash.
All lanes reopened by 1:45 p.m., according to WTOP.
CRASH WITH CRITICAL INJURY— northbound George Washington Memorial Parkway in Arlington prior to Key Bridge. Auto off roadway on its side with 3 patients. One is a toddler who is critical. #VATraffic@ARLnowDOTcompic.twitter.com/qS00lM3AGB
LOCATION: NB George Washington Memorial Parkway / Key Bridge INCIDENT: Traffic Collision IMPACT: All lanes are blocked between Memorial Circle and Key Bridge with incident and emergency response. Follow police directions in the area. Delays are approximat pic.twitter.com/C7ptaeDLah
Wednesday’s sunset in Westover (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
County Covid Testing Booth Still Closed — From Arlington County: “The @curative #COVID19 testing kiosk at Arlington Mill Community Center will be closed tomorrow, Jan 6, due to COVID-related staffing shortages. The kiosks at Court House Plaza and Virginia Highlands Park are scheduled to open at 9 AM. Thank you for your flexibility.” [Twitter]
APS Orders Tests for All Students, Staff — “We have ordered a supply of KN95 masks, particulate filters for an APS provided mask, and at-home rapid antigen test kits for every staff member and student. Supplies for these items are limited but we anticipate them soon and will send additional communication when available.” [Arlington Public Schools]
APS Custodians Clear School Sidewalks — From Arlington Public Schools yesterday afternoon, before the announcement that today would be another snow day: “Thank you custodians and grounds staff for clearing our walkways, roadways and buses to ensure a safe return to school!” [Twitter]
Flight Cancellations at National Airport — From NBC 4’s Adam Tuss yesterday: “MAJOR problems at @Reagan_Airport right now as flight cancellations and delays have piled up. One traveler just told me their flight was cancelled 5 times over 3 days. Airlines tell me there are staffing issues and the winter weather didn’t help. This is a SIGHT!” [Twitter]
Florida Men Stopped With Guns at DCA — “During a search of a Florida man’s carry-on bag on Dec. 28, TSA officers using an X-ray machine discovered an unloaded .40 caliber handgun and 116 bullets. On Saturday, TSA officers stopped another man at a DCA checkpoint with a .40 caliber handgun loaded with six bullets. In both unrelated cases, TSA officers alerted the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority police, who arrested the men and confiscated the guns an ammunition.” [Patch]
No County Board Tie-Breaker This Year — “State law allows the Arlington board to appoint a tie-breaker from within the ranks of the public. It also requires that, if the board does not want to do so, it must hold a vote to that effect at the start of each year. Board members dutifully voted down a tie-breaker at their Jan. 4 organizational meeting, which had been delayed a day due to inclement weather.” [Sun Gazette]
Photos of Aftermath of GW Parkway Crash — “#DCsBravest Fireboats assisted @ArlingtonVaFD as they conducted an extremely difficult rescue of a victim trapped in a car 70 feet down a cliff. Our Fireboat returned in daylight to retrieve gear and check vehicle stability. Photos show how challenging this rescue was.” [Twitter, Twitter, Patch]
It’s Thursday — Today will be partly sunny, with a high near 39. Sunrise at 7:27 a.m. and sunset at 5:01 p.m. Snow tonight and overnight, 2-4 inches of accumulation. After the snow, Friday will be sunny and breezy, with a high near 32. West wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. [Weather.gov]
Fire department rescue unit (file photo, courtesy Arlington County Fire Department)
A man is being brought to safety by fireboat after his car careened a couple of hundred feet off the GW Parkway in Arlington.
The crash happened just before 6 p.m., on the Parkway near Donaldson Run, amid treacherous driving conditions from today’s winter storm. The driver — the only occupant of the vehicle — was trapped inside the car and suspended upside down, with a broken arm and leg, according to initial reports.
First responders were able to reach the vehicle despite “complex access issues,” using ropes to lower themselves down the embankment while fire boats assisted near the shoreline.
After being extricated from the vehicle, the man is now being brought to a waiting ambulance at Columbia Island Marina via D.C. fire boat.
More via Twitter:
#Final – patient extricated and lowered down to an awaiting @dcfireems boat. That boat will bring the patient to an ambulance standing by at a nearby marina, where the ambulance will transport to an area hospital.
Update: Rescuers have reached the auto. Driver (only occupant?) is still conscious. This is a complicated rescue because the extrication tools are difficult to get to the site. DC fireboat is assisting. https://t.co/mjezg5ORwW
A crash led to the closure of the exit from Lynn Street to the GW Parkway (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
A crash led to the closure of the exit from Lynn Street to the GW Parkway (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
A crash led to the closure of the exit from Lynn Street to the GW Parkway (staff photo by Jay Westcott)
The busy exit from northbound N. Lynn Street in Rosslyn to the GW Parkway may remain closed to start the new year.
The lanes that allow drivers to exit onto the Parkway just before the Key Bridge are closed after a crash that took out a traffic signal, just before Christmas.
LOCATION: NB Lynn St exit to NB GW Parkway INCIDENT: Traffic Collision IMPACT: Due to a traffic signal outage caused by a traffic collision the ramp from NB Lynn St to NB GW Parkway is closed until at least Monday, December 27. pic.twitter.com/VeCMmqow7N
Arlington’s public works department was hoping to have a temporary pole up today or tomorrow, allowing the exit to reopen, but a lack of staffing around the holidays may foil those plans.
“The signal pole might not be up until Monday [Jan. 3] because, among non-technical issues, contractor staffing is thin as a result of the holidays and Covid,” said Arlington Dept. of Environmental Services spokesman Peter Golkin.
“The permanent pole, equipment cabinet and related items were completely knocked out by a driver last Thursday so it’s not a simple repair job,” Golkin noted. “The temporary fix will have to be replaced at some point for new permanent equipment.”
GW Parkway between Spout Run and Chain Bridge (photo via Google Maps)
For the first time since it was built in the early 1960s, the northern section of the GW Parkway will be getting a major overhaul.
The National Park Service announced yesterday that it had awarded a $161 million contract to rehabilitate the Parkway from Spout Run in Arlington to the Capital Beltway in McLean. After a design process in 2022, construction is expected to take place between 2023 and 2025.
Drivers are being cautioned that there will be traffic impacts during construction.
Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) touted the project in a statement, saying such work is overdue. This stretch of the Parkway has had to close at least three times over the past seven years due to sinkholes.
“The contract to repair G.W. Parkway’s northern section is a huge infrastructure win for our region,” Beyer said. “Northern Virginians have been pleading for major repairs to this section of the G.W. Parkway for years, as potholes and other damage accumulated over the past six decades put the parkway in ever-worsening shape. Thanks to legislation we passed in Congress and the Department of the Interior under Secretary Haaland’s leadership, we are finally going to get that fixed.”
“I also deeply appreciate the ongoing efforts of the National Park Service to improve safety on G.W. Parkway’s southern stretch,” Beyer added. “Together these projects deliver a top transportation objective for my constituents: making the historic G.W. Parkway as safe as it is scenic. The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will lead to so many projects that will benefit Virginia and the rest of the country as we deliver on the promise to rebuild America’s infrastructure.”
The full press release from the National Park Service about the coming rehab project is below.
