road closures

Streets Shut Down For Suspicious Package in Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com

Update at 3:55 p.m. — The package has been deemed “non-hazardous” and the scene is being cleared.

Update at 4:50 p.m. — Townhall tells us via Twitter that the suspicious package was not in their office.

Earlier: Police have shut down streets around 1901 North Moore Street in Rosslyn due to a suspicious package in the building. The package is reportedly being x-rayed at this time.

1901 North Moore houses several conservative media outlets, including Townhall.com, Salem Radio Network News and religious broadcaster WAVA-FM.

Workers standing outside the fire line tape set up outside said the suspicious package was located on the seventh floor, which houses the offices of Townhall.com, among other businesses. However, when reached on the phone after police were first dispatched to the scene, a Townhall.com employee said she was not aware of the situation.

The Rosslyn Circulator bus stop is located behind the fire tape. We’re trying to find out where the buses are being rerouted to.

Water Main Break Near Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com

A water main break last night in Fort Myer Heights caused asphalt to swell and crack, and water to bubble up through patches of grass.

The culprit is a relatively small six-inch main at North Quinn Street and 16th Street, TBD reported. It’s unclear when the main and the road will get patched up (perhaps it already has), but as of 10:00 last night water was still out in the neighborhood. One or two blocks were closed, but there were no major traffic problems.

Reader Ari Schulman took a few photos of the water streaming down North Quinn Street.

DEVELOPING STORY — VDOT To Start Construction on New Washington Blvd Bridge Next Year

By ARLnow.com

In a surprise move, VDOT has revealed that it is planning to begin construction on a new Washington Boulevard bridge over Columbia Pike next year.

In an email to local leaders, VDOT senior engineer Christiana Briganti-Dunn said the agency plans to award a contract to build the bridge by February. Utility relocations are expected to follow, with major construction beginning by late summer or early fall of 2011.

VDOT expects the project to be complete by the end of 2014.

One local leader said drivers should expect a traffic “nightmare” on the eastern end of Columbia Pike during construction of the new bridge.

The design for the bridge, more generally called the Route 27/244 interchange, will remain the same as was presented at a public hearing in June 2008. In addition to replacing the bridge, the project calls for new traffic signals to be placed on Columbia Pike.

Leaders say that given the long delays in the project, the announcement is surprising (in a good way). The bridge was called “decaying” and “crumbling” in a Washington Post article more than five years ago. The same article said that replacing the bridge “has been a top priority of Arlington County for more than 15 years.”

Even VDOT notes that the bridge, which dates back to the 1940s, “was rated as ‘poor’ in recent structural inspections.”

VDOT plans to call the new bridge the “Freedmen’s Village Bridge.”

Update on 8/31 — VDOT spokesperson Joan Morris assures us that as with all local VDOT projects, there will be no lane closures during rush hour on Columbia Pike or Washington Boulevard during the construction. It’s not clear how engineers will install a new bridge while maintaining existing traffic lanes and on-ramps, but we expect to learn more next week.

Major Repaving Project in Courthouse/Clarendon Area

By ARLnow.com

Drivers and cyclists in the Courthouse/Clarendon area should expect a bumpy ride on Wilson Boulevard over the next couple of days. Wilson has been milled between North Barton Street and North Fillmore Street ahead of a scheduled repaving.

The repaving is expected to begin on Thursday, depending on weather conditions and logistical issues.

Later this week, another stretch of Wilson Boulevard — from North Highland Street to Washington Boulevard, near the Clarendon Metro Station — is scheduled to be milled, with repaving to follow. Next week the same work will take place on Washington Boulevard from Pershing Drive to North Highland Street, according to Department of Environmental Services spokesperson Karen Acar.

Drivers should expect parking restriction in the area during the construction.

Second Break in Water Main Near Ft. Myer

By ARLnow.com

Crews are working to fix a second break in a 12-inch water main near Ft. Myer.

The first break occurred around 7:30 this morning at South Courthouse Road and 2nd Street. Water from the break flooded the intersection and nearby Washington Boulevard, snarling rush hour traffic.

Arlington County crews just finished repairing the break and patching up the road. Now, they’re beginning to work on a second break that occurred at South Wayne Street and 2nd Street. Drivers should expect road and lane closures in the area. The repairs should wrap up around 10:00 tonight.

We’re told the second break happened during the repair of the first break. Both breaks, a county employee said, were the result of blown valves.

The water main is thought to date back to the 1960s.

Residents in the area should expect reduced water pressure and possible sediment in the water. To be safe, those with low water pressure should either boil the water or wait for repairs to be completed.

(more…)

Road Closures for Sen. Byrd Funeral in North Arlington

By ARLnow.com

A public memorial service for West Virginia Sen. Robert Byrd, the longest-serving U.S. senator in history, is being held at 11:00 this morning at the Memorial Baptist Church in North Arlington.

Limited public seating will be available at the funeral, which is also expected to draw a large media contingent to the church at 3455 North Glebe Road.

After the service, a private internment ceremony will be held at the Columbia Gardens Cemetery in Ashton Heights.

The Arlington Police Department is warning of parking and other restrictions near the funeral. There will also be rolling road closures during the procession to the cemetery.

Among the the rolling closures will be the southbound lanes of Glebe Road, stretching from the church, through Ballston to Route 50. Parts of North Pershing Drive, North Irving Street and the westbound lanes of Route 50 will also be closed for a time.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&q=columbia+gardens+cemetery&fb=1&gl=us&hq=columbia+gardens+cemetery&hnear=Arlington,+VA&cid=0,0,1033188353133194816&ei=vrgyTMmODsWqlAfb_6m-Cw&ved=0CCsQnwIwBA&ll=38.874897,-77.100163&spn=0.023554,0.03828&z=15

To Do This Weekend: Air Force Cycling Classic

By ARLnow.com

It will be a weekend full of bicycle racing and major street closures in Arlington, thanks to the Air Force Cycling Classic.

On Saturday, the 13th annual Clarendon Cup will feature races by amateur and professional cyclists. The amateur races will take place between 8:oo and 10:00 a.m. The Women’s Elite Race follows, with the Men’s Pro Race taking place between noon and 2:15 p.m.

On Sunday the action moves to Crystal City. There will be a non-competitive Crystal Ride for cycling enthusiasts of all abilities, from 7:30 to 11:00 a.m. The Men’s Pro Race will depart from the Air Force Memorial at 11:30 a.m. The Women’s Elite Race and a Amateur race will follow. A bike expo will be held in Crystal City throughout the festivities.

See the full 2010 Cycling Classic schedule here, and a list of street closures here.

For the rest of what’s going on this weekend, check out our events calendar.

Flickr pool photo by afagen.

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