road closures

Traffic Alert: Road Closure in Clarendon

By Katie Pyzyk

A street that’s been closed in Clarendon for hours will remain that way through the evening rush.

Drivers are advised to find alternate routes instead of using N. Fillmore Street, which is shut down between Wilson Blvd and Clarendon Blvd.

Dominion is installing a new 150,000 volt underground transformer at the site. It powers numerous businesses on the block.

Several of the businesses, including Palm Beach Tan and Cheesecake Factory, have posted signs on their windows apologizing to customers for having to temporarily close down.

There’s no definite time for the work to be finished, but the block is not expected to reopen any earlier than about 7:00 p.m.

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I-395 Ramp Near Shirlington Blocked by Accident

By ARLnow.com

Police are blocking the ramp from northbound Glebe Road to southbound I-395 — and from southbound I-395 to Shirlington — due to an accident.

One person suffered a back injury as a result of the two-vehicle wreck, according to police radio traffic.

Cars that were stranded on the ramp as a result of the accident are being turned around by police. No word yet on how long the closure may last.

Road Closed After Truck Backs into Utility Pole

By ARLnow.com

A cement truck backed into a utility pole at the intersection of 16th Street N. and N. Buchanan Street this morning, knocking down power lines and forcing the extended closure of 16th Street.

The incident happened around 9:15 a.m., in the Waycroft-Woodlawn neighborhood. We’re told the cement truck was attempting to back up when it hit the pole, snapping it in two.

16th Street N. is expected to be closed for much of the day as crews from Dominion work to replace the broken poles and downed lines. The closure is several blocks from Virginia Hospital Center.

About 300 homes are expected to be without power until at least late afternoon, while repairs are underway.

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TRAFFIC ALERT — Glebe Road Shut Down Due to Accident

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 10:00 a.m.) Glebe Road was shut down in the area of 5th Street S. this morning due to a head-on collision between a car and a pickup truck

The accident happened just before 9:00 a.m., in front of Arlington Fire Station No. 1. Firefighters had to remove the top of the pickup truck to extricate the female driver, who was reported to be seriously injured. She was brought via ambulance to a local hospital. The driver of the car was reported to be alert and walking around after the accident.

Glebe Road was reopened to traffic around 10:00 a.m.

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End of the Road for 10th Street Bridge

By ARLnow.com

It’s sayonara for the 10th Street bridge over Route 50.

Assuming rainy weather doesn’t interfere, the bridge is set to be torn down this weekend. Police closed the bridge this morning in anticipation of the demolition, which is being done as part of the Route 50/Courthouse Road interchange project. As a result of the demolition, drivers heading east on 10th Street will now only be able to take the ramp to westbound Route 50, instead of being able to take the bridge over to the eastbound lanes of Route 50 toward D.C.

Drivers should plan for westbound Route 50 to be closed throughout Saturday and Sunday, during this weekend’s demolition. VDOT is advising motorists to avoid the area and, if detoured, to use Washington Boulevard as an alternate route back to Route 50.

 

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Incentives for Home Energy Efficiency — Arlington County is partnering with a nonprofit group to provide 320 Arlington homeowners with incentives to improve their home’s energy efficiency. Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) will provide $125,000 in grants to help homeowners achieve at least a 20 percent energy savings. [Arlington County]

Closures for Weekend 5K Race — A number of streets will be closed in the Williamsburg area on Saturday for the 2nd annual Nottingham Elementary PTA 5K Run/Walk. Parts of Williamsburg Boulevard, Little Falls Road and N. Ohio Street will be closed between 7:30 and 10:30 a.m. Race participants are being encouraged to wear green in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. [Arlington County Police Department]

Yorktown QB to Play at Salisbury — Jordan Smith, the quarterback who helped lead Yorktown High School to an undefeated regular season this past fall, has committed to play football for Salisbury University in Maryland. Salisbury, a Division III program, recruited Smith as a quarterback. [Sun Gazette]

Major Closures Planned on Route 50

By ARLnow.com

VDOT crews are preparing for a number of significant road closures as a result of the ongoing Route 50/Courthouse Road interchange project.

Westbound Route 50 will be completely closed between Courthouse Road and 10th Street from 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 24 to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 25. The closure is being put into place to allow the demolition of the bridge from 10th Street to eastbound Route 50. During the demolition process, drivers will be encouraged to avoid the closure area and use Washington Boulevard as a detour to Route 50. The 10th Street bridge itself will close starting on Thursday, March 22.

Longer-term closures are also planned starting next week.

The ramp from westbound Route 50 to N. Fairfax Drive (between Courthouse Road and 10th Street) will close starting on March 22, as will the stretch of Fairfax Drive between Scott Street and Courthouse Road that runs parallel to Route 50. Both closures will be in place “until work nears completion in fall 2013,” according to VDOT.

VDOT will put detours in place during the closures.

In place of the bridge from 10th Street to eastbound Route 50, drivers can use Washington Boulevard to North Pershing Drive back to Route 50 as a detour. Instead of the ramp from westbound Route 50 to Fairfax Drive, drivers can use 10th Street as a detour.

Maps of the detours are available from the VDOT project website.

Road Closures Planned for Four Courts Four Miler

By Katie Pyzyk

Several roads will be closed on Saturday for the Four Courts Four Miler race. The Arlington County Police Department asks residents to plan accordingly and avoid driving in the affected areas.

The sold out race begins and ends in front of Ireland’s Four Courts Pub (2051 Wilson Blvd), close to the Courthouse Metro.

The following lane closures will be in effect between 6:30 AM and 11:00 AM:

  • Wilson Blvd from Courthouse Road to N. Rhodes St

The following lane closures will be in effect between 8:45 AM and 11:00 AM:

  • Wilson Blvd from Courthouse Road to Route 110
  • Northbound Route 110 from I-395 to I-66.

Southbound Route 110 will remain open. Customers can still access the Safeway at 1525 Wilson Blvd via N. Nash St or N. Oak St.

A party at Ireland’s Four Courts follows the race with live music, Irish dancers and adult beverages.

President Obama to Visit Fire Station 5 Tomorrow

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 2:20 a.m.) President Obama will visit Arlington’s Fire Station 5 tomorrow morning to discuss a new initiative to help returning military veterans get jobs — including jobs as firefighters and police officers.

Obama and representatives from the International Association of Fire Fighters union will announce the initiative at the closed event, which is expected to begin around 11:00 a.m.

Fire Station 5 is located at 1750 S. Hayes Street in Aurora Highlands, just blocks from Pentagon City mall. Police say drivers should expect road closures and other impacts in the area.

“The event is expected to create moderate traffic disruptions in the Crystal City area from approximately 10:00 a.m. to noon,” said Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. “Emergency parking restrictions will be in effect along South Hayes Street to facilitate the presidential visit.”

BREAKING NEWS — Gas Line Rupture Shuts Down Glebe Road

By ARLnow.com

Update at 8:00 p.m. — One lane of northbound Glebe Road opened around 6:00 p.m., according to Arlington Alerts.

Update at 5:00 p.m. — The gas leak has been stopped, firefighters are clearing the scene, and the southbound lanes of Glebe Road have been reopened. So far, northbound Glebe Road remains closed.

Update at 4:00 p.m. — Washington Gas has told firefighters that they have located the source of the gas leak and that it will be about another half hour until they can shut off the gas.

All lanes of Glebe Road have been shut down between Route 50 and N. Pershing Drive due to a gas line rupture.

Initial reports suggest that a major gas line was cut by a utility crew, necessitating extended road closures. Crews from Washington Gas are on the scene using digging equipment outside an apartment building at Glebe Road and N. Piedmont Street. The building has been evacuated and a strong odor of natural gas can be smelled a block away.

Police are on the scene directing traffic. Firefighters are monitoring gas levels in nearby storm drains and standing by with fire hoses in hand should something ignite the gas. Pedestrians, including school children walking home from school, aren’t being allowed on a two block portion of Glebe Road.

Drivers should plan for possible significant rush hour traffic impacts as a result of the closure.

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Water Main Break Causes Road to Buckle in Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com

A water main break has closed 19th Street N. between N. Kent Street and Arlington Ridge Road in Rosslyn.

Arlington County crews have stopped the flow of water from the break, but not before part of 19th Street buckled upward due to the pressure of the water.

The road closure is not otherwise impacting traffic in Rosslyn, which has been relatively light this week. No word yet on when the road may reopen.

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