If you’re trying to leave town for Memorial Day weekend on I-66 or I-395, you’re going to have plenty of company.
Westbound I-66 is slow from Rosslyn to Falls Church. Meanwhile, northbound I-395 is jammed from Glebe Road to the 14th Street Bridge.
In addition to heavy traffic, we’ve also spotted packs of Rolling Thunder motorcyclists heading into town for the annual Memorial Day weekend gathering.
Update at 9:52 a.m. — Police are starting to reopen the bridge.
Arlington Police have shut down northbound I-395 at the 14th Street Bridge, apparently due to an accident in D.C.
Traffic on I-395 is backing up to Washington Boulevard.
Update at 11:20 a.m. — One lane of NB I-395 has reopened.
Update at 11:05 a.m. — All traffic is being diverted onto King Street and being re-routed back onto I-395 past the accident scene. Expect major backups.
As of 10:30 a.m., northbound I-395 was shut down at King Street due to an accident involving an overturned vehicle.
Arlington firefighters on the scene report three injuries, including two with head injuries. All of the injured people were responsive, firefighters said.
Does this scene look familiar? It’s a scene that seems to be repeating itself over and over again when it rains.
Today, around 10:00 a.m., a car spun out of control and hit a guardrail while heading around a bend on southbound I-395, just past Washington Boulevard. The driver was said to be conscious but groggy, and was evaluated by paramedics.
Last month, on a rainy day, an SUVcrashed into the same guardrail in the same location just minutes after police finished clearing a roll-over accident in (you guessed it) the same exact location.
Rainy conditions have claimed yet another car on southbound I-395 near Washington Boulevard.
An SUV apparently spun out of control and hit a guardrail on the right side of the highway. The accident happened just 15-30 minutes after a rollover accident involving a Mercedes was cleared in the same area.
Virginia State Police are on the scene. So far, no injuries have been reported.
We hear that there were two or three other accidents in the same spot earlier this morning. Word to the wise: be careful if you’re driving on southbound I-395 today!
Update at 11:30 a.m. — The accident has been cleared and all lanes are now open.
A black Mercedes has flipped on its roof on southbound I-395 just past the Washington Boulevard exit.
Police and firefighters are on the scene reporting that the driver was able to walk away from the accident.
The wreck is in the left lane, with two right lanes getting by the accident scene. Minor delays are forming at Washington Boulevard.
Arlington’s Highway Bottlenecks — An annual report on traffic congestion is out and Arlington has claimed two of the three worst traffic bottlenecks in the region. Westbound I-66 in Arlington, northbound I-395 in Arlington ranked and eastbound I-66 in Fairfax County rounded out the top three spots. [Washington Post]
Colony House Sells to Developer — The Colony House furniture store on Lee Highway has been sold to Bethesda-based developer B.F. Saul for $5.6 million. The company, which developed the Clarendon Center project, says it hasn’t decided what to do with the site yet. In January, we reported that Colony House’s owner is hoping to find a new Arlington location for the store. [Washington Business Journal]
Columbia Pike Giant to Open This Summer — A 60,000 square foot Giant supermarket will be opening in the Penrose Square development on Columbia Pike at some point this summer, according to a store spokesperson. [TBD]
Video of President Obama’s Wakefield Visit — President Obama and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard made a jovial visit to an AP U.S. History class at Wakefield High School yesterday. During an informal question-and-answer session, students asked the leaders about “schools in Australia, the recent flooding, Australian rule football, and even Vegemite.” President Obama also led students in a rendition of “Happy Birthday to You” for their teacher, Northern Virginia Teacher of the Year Colette Fraley. [The White House Blog]
New Additions to Hillside Park — There’s a new sculpture in Rosslyn’s Hillside Park. Also, some plantings have been added. [Ode Street Tribune]
Flickr pool photo by Damiec
(Updated at 5:20 p.m.) Police were combing the area around I-395 early this morning after a hit-and-run crash involving a reported wrong-way driver.
Around 2:30 a.m., police got a call for a gray Lincoln Town Car heading southbound in the northbound HOV lanes of I-395. Just moments later, a call came in for a collision under the Arlington Ridge Road bridge.
According to Virginia State Police, the Town Car crashed head-on into a red Mitsubishi sedan, sending the Mitsubishi flying into a northbound tractor-trailer. The driver of the Town Car then fled on foot.
Arlington Police and Virginia State Police searched for the suspect — described as at the time as young, well-dressed man — but he remains at large.
Miraculously, the female driver of the Mitsubishi only suffered minor injuries. She was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The driver of the tractor-trailer was not injured.
HOV lane traffic backed up as police investigated the accident. Investigators are still trying to figure out how the Town Car entered the HOV lanes going the wrong way.
See the press release from Virginia State Police, after the jump.
Update at 11:25 a.m. — The pothole has been filled, VDOT reports.
At least a half dozen cars suffered flat tires after hitting a big pothole on southbound I-395 this morning.
The pothole is located in the left lane between the 14th Street Bridge and the exit for Route 1, according to VDOT spokeswoman Jennifer McCord.
“Our contractor is en route right now and will be repairing it ASAP,” McCord said in an email.
Arlington police assisted a number of the disabled motorists.
The main lanes of I-395 are backed up in Virginia from the 14th Street Bridge to the Springfield interchange due to fire activity in the District.
A fire at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center prompted a large emergency response that shut down 14th Street between Constitution Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue. The fire, which originated in the building’s kitchen and spread through the ductwork, is now under control. Fire equipment has been clearing the scene and 14th Street will likely reopen soon — but that’s little solace to the thousands currently crawling along on I-395.
The good news, if any, is that the HOV lanes are clear until just past the Pentagon.
I-395 HOT Lanes Could Be Reconsidered — Virginia Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton tells Potomac Local that should High Occupancy Toll lanes on the Beltway and I-95 prove successful, HOT lanes could still be added to I-395. On Tuesday Arlington County announced they were withdrawing their lawsuit against a planned HOT lanes project on I-395, following an announcement from VDOT that they would no longer pursue HOT lanes between Arlington and Alexandria. [Potomac Local]
DCA Baggage Handler Gets Trapped in Cargo Hold — A baggage handler at Reagan National Airport became trapped in the cargo hold of a plane after another baggage handler closed the cargo door without realizing someone was still inside. The trapped employee had to yell and pound on the ceiling to get the attention of the plane’s co-pilot. [TBD]
Webb Won’t Run for Reelection — Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) said yesterday that he will not run for reelection in 2012. The senator’s announcement opens up the race to Democratic hopefuls and should improve the chances of former Senator George Allen, who will likely win the Republican nomination. Former governor Tim Kaine is now expected to seek the Democratic nomination. Del. David Englin, who represents part of Arlington, is also said to be considering a run. [Politico]
Flickr pool photo by Jason OX4
