road closures

Road Closures, Events Planned for Marine Corps Marathon

By ARLnow.com

Preparations are underway in Rosslyn, Crystal City and elsewhere in Arlington for the 37th Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday, Oct. 28.

The race will start at about 7:55 a.m. and the 26.2 mile course, which winds through Arlington and the District, will close at 3:00 p.m. During the marathon, Crystal City will be hosting an all-day family festival, complete with moon bounces, face painting, obstacle courses and live DJs. Rosslyn will be hosting the marathon’s finish festival, featuring live bands, a beer garden and free massages for runners.

The Arlington County Police Department is planning to close the following roads and highways to make way for the 30,000 runners expected to participate in the race.

  • 4:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Route 110 ramp from Washington Boulevard to Route 110
  • 4:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Marshall Drive from N. Meade Street to Route 110
  • 4:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Route 110 from I-66 to U.S. Highway 1
  • 4:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. N. Meade Street from Marshall Drive to Lynn Street
  • 4:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Wilson Boulevard from N. Nash Street to Route 110
  • 4:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Lynn Street from N. Meade Street to Lee Highway
  • 4:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Fort Myer Drive from N. Meade Street to Lee Highway
  • 4:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. N. Moore Street from Wilson Boulevard to Lee Highway
  • 4:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. 19th Street N. from Lynn Street to N. Nash Street
  • 7:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Lee Highway eastbound from Lynn Street to N. Kirkwood Street
  • 7:00 a.m. – 9:25 a.m. Spout Run Parkway from Lee Highway to GW Memorial Parkway
  • 7:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m. GW Memorial Parkway from Spout Run to Key Bridge off ramp
  • 7:45 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Army Navy Drive from S. Eads Street to 12th Street S.
  • 7:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. 15th Street S. from Crystal Drive to Eads Street
  • 7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 12th Street from Army Navy Drive to Crystal Drive
  • 7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Crystal Drive from 12th Street to 23rd Street
  • 7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Long Bridge Drive from 12th Street to N. Boundary Channel Drive
  • 7:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m. N. Boundary Channel Drive from I-395 ramps to Washington Boulevard

Temporary parking restrictions will also be in place along the marathon route.

Flickr pool photo by BrianMKA

Local Roads, Highways to Close for Army Ten Miler

By ARLnow.com

A number of local roads and highways in south Arlington will be closed Sunday morning for the running of the 28th annual Army Ten-Miler race.

The race starts and ends near the Pentagon but the course also takes participants into the District. More than 30,000 runners are expected to participate. Runners and spectators are being encouraged to take Metro to get to the race.

From an ACPD press release:

The Arlington County Police Department will close several streets near the Pentagon on Sunday, October 21, 2012, for the 28th Annual Army 10-Miler race. The race begins at 8:00 a.m. on Route 110, crosses the Potomac River into the District of Columbia, returns to the Commonwealth via the I-395 HOV lane and ends in the Pentagon north parking lot.

The following roads in Arlington will be impacted:

  • Route 110 between Rosslyn and Crystal City will be closed in both directions at 5:00 a.m. (motorists should use the George Washington Memorial Parkway as an alternative.)
  • I-395 HOV northbound from Crystal City to the 14th Street Bridge will be closed at 6:00 a.m.
  • S. Eads Street from Army Navy Drive into the Pentagon and northbound I-395 HOV lanes will be closed at 5:00 a.m.
  • I-395 southbound HOV exit to S. Eads Street and the Pentagon south parking lot will be closed at 5:00 a.m.

All of the roads should be reopened by noon.

In addition, access to the Pentagon north parking lot will be restricted to “Authorized Vehicles Only” from 4:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Parking for Pentagon employees and Pentagon Memorial patrons will be available in the south parking lot via Columbia Pike and S. Fern Street.

Runners, spectators and support personnel are encouraged to use Metro, as parking is limited. The Pentagon and Pentagon City stations on the Blue and Yellow Lines are located within walking distance of the start and finish lines.

UPDATE (3): Restaurant Fire on Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

Updated at 3:10 p.m. — Columbia Pike has reopened to traffic, according to scanner reports.

(Updated at 2:45 p.m.) Columbia Pike has been shut down between Walter Reed Drive and S. Courthouse Road as a result of a working fire at a restaurant.

Firefighters arrived on scene at 2520 Columbia Pike around 2:10 p.m., for a fire in the kitchen of the Top’s China takeout restaurant. As of 2:45 p.m., the fire was extinguished and firefighters were checking for remaining hot spots, according to ACFD spokesman Capt. Gregg Karl.

The numerous shops in the strip shopping center in which Top’s is located have been evacuated, Karl said.

Photos courtesy @taylorcarson, @cmags44, @kochimom

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Streets to Close in Va. Square, Clarendon for 8K Race

By ARLnow.com

A number of streets in the Virginia Square and Clarendon areas will be closed Sunday morning for the Acumen Solutions Run for the Cause 8K race.

The race, organized by Potomac River Running, raises money for a number of good causes. Last year, sponsors say the race raised $125,000 for ten non-profits.

The starting gun is scheduled to sound at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday. Arlington County Police will be closing the following streets during the race:

  • North Quincy Street from Glebe Road to Wilson Boulevard will be closed from 5:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
  • Wilson Boulevard Eastbound from Quincy Street to North 10th Street will be closed from 7:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
  • North 10th Street Eastbound to Washington Boulevard will be closed from 7:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
  • Washington Boulevard Southbound from North 10th Street to Rt. 244 will be closed from 7:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Street parking restrictions will also be in place. Vehicles parked in temporary no parking zones will be ticketed and towed.’

Photo via Facebook

Road Closures Planned for Shirlington Oktoberfest

By ARLnow.com

The 13th annual Mid-Atlantic Oktoberfest will be held in Shirlington on Saturday.

The event, hosted by Shirlington’s Capital City Brewing Company, is being billed as the “biggest one yet,” with beers on tap from 75 breweries. There will also be traditional German music and German food, like bratwurst, sauerkraut and soft pretzels.

The event starts at noon and runs through 7:00 p.m., though the taps will be turned off at 6:00. Admission is $25 and includes a tasting glass and 10 beer tickets. Additional tickets are $1 each, with a 5 ticket minimum.

To accommodate the event, Arlington County police will be shutting down the following roads around Shirlington Village, from about 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

  • Campbell Avenue from Arlington Mill Drive to S. Quincy Street
  • S. Randolph Street from Arlington Mill Drive to the alley behind Charlie Chang’s

“Additionally, vehicles will not be allowed to exit the covered Harris Teeter parking structure onto Campbell Avenue,” police said in a press release. “Drivers should be reminded that traffic in the immediate area may be congested throughout the event, parking will be limited, and alternative modes of transportation are recommended.”

As in years past, police and paramedics will be keeping an eye on the event, which attracts a large crowd of beer drinkers.

Photo courtesy Capitol City Brewing Company

Partial Closure of Northbound GW Parkway This Weekend

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 2:15 p.m.) A large stretch of the northbound George Washington Parkway will be shut down this weekend due to rock stabilization work.

All northbound lanes of the parkway will be closed from Spout Run to Chain Bridge. The closure is scheduled to be in place from 7:15 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 5, to 5:30 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 8, according to the National Park Service.

“Detours will be posted, variable message boards have been placed, but alternate routes are strongly advised,” NPS said.

One possible way around the closure for GW Parkway drivers is to take the northbound Spout Run Parkway to Lee Highway, Lee Highway north to Military Road, Military Road north to Glebe Road, Glebe Road northeast to Chain Bridge Road, and Chain Bridge Road north to back to the GW Parkway. Another alternative route, for drivers heading to the Beltway, is to take Spout Run to Lee Highway to westbound I-66.

The rock stabilization project is being performed through Dec. 19 by the Federal Highway Administration. The goal is to stabilize the “rock slopes” of two sites near Spout Run that experienced recent “rock fall events.” The second site, just north of Spout Run, had a boulder fall onto the parkway as a result of the Aug. 23, 2011 earthquake, according to FHA.

In addition to the closure this coming weekend, one of the three northbound lanes of the parkway near Spout Run is closed through the end of the project, and a second (middle) lane is closed during non-rush hours. On top of that, two additional full weekend closures are also planned this month.

“A second and third full weekend closure at the north slide is tentatively scheduled for the weekends of October 13th and 14th and October 20th and 21st,” according to the Park Service.

Photo via the Federal Highway Administration

Shirlington Road Closures for 9/11 Heroes Run

By ARLnow.com

The 9/11 Heroes Run Shirlington will shut down a number of roads in the area on Saturday (Sept. 29).

The 5K race is being held to benefit Travis Mills, an Army staff sergeant who lost all four limbs to an IED in Afghanistan earlier this year. Registration for the race — $35 for individuals — is still open.

The race will start at 8:30 a.m. at the corner of S. Randolph and S. Quincy Streets in Shirlington Village.

In order to facilitate the race, the Arlington County Police Department will be shutting down a number of streets from about 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. Among them:

  • Westbound Four Mile Run Drive between Walter Reed Drive and George Mason Drive
  • Northbound Walter Reed Drive between Arlington Mill Drive and Four Mile Run Drive
  • Arlington Mill Drive between Walter Reed Drive and S. Quincy Street
  • All of the roads immediately surrounding Shirlington Village

Street parking will also be restricted in the area. Cars parked in areas marked as temporary ‘no parking’ will be ticketed or towed.

Road Closures for Clarendon Day Festival and Race

By ARLnow.com

A number of streets will be closed tomorrow (Saturday) for the annual Clarendon Day festival and race.

The Clarendon Day 10K, 5K and Kids Dash races will take place between 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. During that time, drivers should expect closures along Wilson Boulevard from N. Fillmore Street in Clarendon to Route 110 in Rosslyn. Parts of northbound Route 110 and N. Kent Street will also be closed.

A large central section of Clarendon will be off-limits to motorists for most of the day for the festival — which includes live music, entertainment, arts and craft, food and beer. Closures will be in place from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. along the following streets:

  • Wilson Blvd from Washington Blvd to N. Garfield Street
  • Clarendon Blvd from Washington Blvd to N. Garfield Street
  • N. Highland Street between N. 11th Street and N. Hartford Street

Street parking along the race routes and around the festival area will be restricted, and police are expected to tow cars that are still parked in the temporary no parking zone Saturday morning.

Disclosure: Clarendon Day is an ARLnow.com advertiser

Water Main Break Shuts Down Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

Update at 3:30 p.m. — Columbia Pike has reopened.

A water main break prompted authorities to shut down a large section of Columbia Pike for most of the morning.

Columbia Pike is currently closed to through traffic  from George Mason Drive to Four Mile Run. One worker on the scene estimated that the closure would last until around noon.

A break in an 8-inch water main under Columbia Pike across from the Whitemore Apartments (4301 Columbia Pike) was reported around 4:00 a.m. The water was quickly shut off, but Arlington County crews have had to dig a six foot deep hole in the westbound lanes in order to reach the burst pipe.

No one has lost water as a result of the water main break, we’re told.

 

Walter Reed Drive Closed After Possible Grenade Found

By ARLnow.com

Walter Reed Drive has been shut down between S. 13th and 14th Streets due to police and fire department activity.

A grenade might have been found in a storage unit in the area, according to Arlington County Fire Department spokesman Capt. Gregg Karl.

The road has been closed as a precaution while authorities wait for the bomb squad to examine the object.

UPDATED: Gas Line Break in Crystal City

By Katie Pyzyk

 

Update at 12:05 p.m. — The line is capped and streets will reopen once emergency equipment is cleared from the roadway.

Earlier: Crews are on the scene of a gas leak in Crystal City, where several blocks are being closed to traffic.

We’re told a construction crew hit a two-inch gas line near Crystal Drive and 20th Street South. Crystal Drive has been shut down from 18th Street to 23rd Street while workers repair the line. Firefighters are currently checking nearby buildings for elevated gas levels.

There’s no estimate on when the road will re-open.

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