traffic light

Crash Topples Streetlight, Traffic Signal in Pentagon City

By ARLnow.com
1/7

A two-vehicle crash toppled over a streetlight and an attached traffic signal in Pentagon City today.

The wreck happened around noon, at the intersection of Army Navy Drive and S. Hayes Street, near the Pentagon City mall.

The exact circumstances of the crash were unclear, but one of the vehicles, an SUV, suffered seemingly minor front end damage while the second vehicle, a sedan with an Uber sticker in the window, suffered heavier damage. The damage to the sedan included a windshield apparently smashed by the light pole.

No injuries were reported. One travel lane on both Hayes and Army Navy, as well as part of the sidewalk, was blocked while crews worked to turn off power to the damaged pole and clean up the damage.

Power Issues Reported After Storms Rumble Through

By ARLnow.com

Storm clouds in Rosslyn on 5/23/16A “power surge” was reported in the City of Falls Church and Arlington’s East Falls Church neighborhood, in the wake of a spring thunderstorm that rumbled through the area around 3:30 p.m.

The power problem caused the traffic signal at the busy intersection of Lee Highway and Washington Blvd to start flashing, snarling traffic, and was also said to be responsible for numerous activated burglar and fire alarm calls in the area.

As of 4 p.m., there were just shy of 600 Dominion customers reported to be without power in Northern Virginia, mostly in Fairfax County.

DEVELOPING: Power Outage, Traffic Light Issues Reported Along Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor

By ARLnow.com
1/5

(Updated at 3:15 p.m.) Several traffic signals are out around Clarendon following a power outage that briefly affected much of the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor.

The outage was reported around 12:30 p.m. in Courthouse, Clarendon, Virginia Square and Ballston. Power was quickly restored in most places, though Dominion says just over 200 customers are still without power.

Restoration is at least initially expected between 4-6 p.m., according to Dominion’s website.

Traffic lights are out at the following intersections in and around Clarendon, according to scanner traffic. Police are setting up cones to help direct traffic.

  • 10th Street and Washington Blvd
  • 10th Street and Wilson Blvd
  • 10th Street and Fairfax Drive
  • 10th Street and Barton Street

More traffic signals are being reported out along Fairfax Drive and, separately, at the intersection of Old Dominion Drive and Lee Highway. An earlier traffic light outage at Washington Blvd and N. Kirkwood Street has reportedly been resolved.

As for what caused the power outage, one Twitter user in Courthouse reported hearing a “loud noise” before losing power, while others reported a tree down on wires and blown transformers at the intersection of 10th Street and N. Barton Street, near Barton Park.

Also, a smell of natural gas is being reported at 10th Street and Washington Blvd. The fire department and Washington Gas is responding to the scene.

https://twitter.com/MalVictoria3/status/702550401560813568

File photo

Flashing Yellow Arrows Coming to Arlington Intersections

By ARLnow.com

Flashing yellow light diagram (via Arlington County)Arlington County will be installing new traffic signals, featuring a blinking yellow arrow, along certain high-traffic roadways.

The flashing yellow signals will replace the familiar left turn signal with unblinking green and yellow arrows.

The older signals run from green arrow, to yellow arrow, to a solid green light, followed by a solid red. They’re accompanied by a metal sign that says “left turn yield on green.”

The new signals will run from a green arrow to a flashing yellow arrow, then to a steady yellow arrow followed by a red arrow. A sign with the words “left turn yield on flashing yellow arrow” will be placed next to the signal.

“The blinking yellow arrows help motorists know when to yield to oncoming traffic while attempting a left turn and support recommendations from the National Cooperative Highway Research Program,” according to a county press release. “Studies show that the flashing arrow signal is better understood by drivers than the more common circular green and yellow lights.”

“The flashing yellow arrow has been proven to increase compliance and reduce collisions. It’s already in use in other parts of Virginia,” the press release continues. “The new signals also provide traffic engineers with more flexibility in the way left turns are directed if traffic conditions change.”

Arlington will initially be installing the new signals along parts of Arlington Blvd, Glebe Road and Lee Highway, at a cost of $60,000. Additional installations are expected to follow.

VDOT is currently installing the new signals in parts of southern Virginia.

Power, Traffic Lights Out Along Stretch of Lee Highway

By ARLnow.com

Dominion crews on N. Utah Street near Fairfax DriveUpdate at 3:30 p.m. — Tuckahoe Elementary is reported to be without power as a result of the outage.

Power and traffic lights are out along a portion of Lee Highway on the western end of Arlington County.

Traffic lights are reported to be dark at the intersections of Lee Highway at N. Harrison Street and N. Sycamore Street. Police are monitoring traffic at the intersections, which should be treated as a four way stop.

Readers have reported that power is out in the neighborhoods surrounding that section of Lee Highway, including as far south as 20th Street N. in the Westover area.

As of 3 p.m., Dominion reported that nearly 1,500 customers in Arlington are without power. Scanner traffic indicates that power crews are en route to the affected area.

File photo

Downed Wires on S. George Mason Close Off Road

By Heather Mongilio

Wires down on S. George MasonS. George Mason Dr. is closed off starting at S. Columbus Street due to downed wires.

As of 4:30 this afternoon, multiple power lines were down, including one that stretched across S. George Mason. Residents were standing outside their homes watching crews work to restore power.

Traffic lights at S. Columbus Streets were also dark due to the power outage.

As of press time, the cause of the downed wires had not been determined. Dominion Electric is currently reporting that 50 customers are out of power in the area due to a broken pole.

The company predicts power will be restored between 7-9 p.m. tonight.

Traffic Lights Dark at Lee Highway and Glebe Road

By Heather Mongilio
1/4

Police are helping to direct traffic at the busy intersection of Lee Highway and Glebe Road due to a problem with the traffic lights.

The lights are dark after a wire disconnected from the transformer by the Wells Fargo bank. Scanner traffic reported that the wire was brought down by a passing truck.

Police set up cones and were directing traffic while crews reconnected the wire and worked to get the traffic signals working again. Traffic lights in all four directions were affected.

Two-Vehicle Crash Takes Out Traffic Signal on Lee Highway

By ARLnow.com
1/7

(Updated at 3:45 p.m.) A two-vehicle collision flattened a traffic signal and caused some traffic disruptions on Lee Highway this afternoon.

The crash happened between 2:30 and 3:00 p.m., on Lee Highway between Spout Run and the I-66 overpass. An SUV and a commercial van were involved in the wreck, which knocked over a traffic light in the median.

“One car was coming from the 66 off ramp and the other was driving on Lee Highway,” a witness told ARLnow.com.

Police on scene believe the slick roads may have been a factor. So far, no injuries have been reported. Police are remaining on scene while tow crews prepare to haul away the vehicles.

The county’s traffic engineering department has been notified of the damaged signal. According to officers, the signal that was knocked down will not significantly affect the intersection’s safety, and no officers will be needed to help with traffic flow.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Apartment construction project on Lee Highway, at dusk

Blue, Orange, Silver Lines Suspended — Metrorail service on the Blue, Orange and Silver lines was suspended during the morning rush hour due to a water main break in D.C. Those in Arlington hoping to get to work via Uber were being charged four times the normal rate, thanks to the company’s “surge pricing” practices. An Arlington Alert, meanwhile, contained an oddly appropriate typo — it noted that service was suspended at “Farragut Wet” due to the water main break. [Washington Post]

Board: Traffic Light Coming in 18 Months — The Arlington County Board had good news for activists at its Saturday meeting: the traffic light they’re seeking at Columbia Pike and S. Frederick Street is coming. The bad news is that it could take up to 18 months. Board member Walter Tejada said that is “too long” and “we have to find a way to make it happen.” [InsideNova]

Zoning Change Advertised for Wendy’s Redevelopment — The County Board on Saturday voted to advertise a potential zoning change for 2026 and 2038 Wilson Blvd, the current site of the Wendy’s restaurant in Courthouse, which is slated for a redevelopment. Developer Carr Properties wants to build a 12-story office building on the site. Public hearings will now be held in advance of Board consideration of the rezoning request. [Arlington County]

Arlington Book Store Wins Grant — East Falls Church bookstore One More Page Books has won a $9,000 grant from novelist James Patterson. The store plans to use the grant to launch a “bookmobile” — a modified food truck that sells books around the community. [Washington Post]

Residents Want Traffic Light at Columbia Pike, S. Frederick Street

By Ethan Rothstein

The intersection of Columbia Pike and S. Frederick StreetA group of residents and a nonprofit are petitioning the county, asking for a traffic signal to be installed at Columbia Pike and S. Frederick Street.

The Columbia Forest Civic Association, Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (V.O.I.C.E.) and residents of the Carlyle House and Columbia Grove apartments have joined together to support the petition. They plan to be in attendance on Saturday morning to present the petition to the Arlington County Board.

A V.O.I.C.E. press release cites police data saying there have been 33 collisions at the intersection over the past five years, including four involving pedestrians and one involving a cyclist.

“A pedestrian-activated flashing yellow light was installed here several years ago but has proven inadequate as many drivers simply ignore it,” the press release states. “Many schoolchildren, seniors, and commuters need to cross here on foot every morning and afternoon. Cars pass through the intersection from 9 lanes and abutting driveways, and drivers attempting left turns are forced to protrude into the lanes. Even for careful drivers it is impossible to navigate safely.”

The petition has 219 signatures from residents of the neighborhood, and the petition says the traffic light now has the support of the county’s transportation staff and the intersection meets state traffic standards for a signal.

“All that remains is for the County Board to agree to expedite the release of the funding necessary — estimated at roughly $400,000 — to have the light installed,” according to the release.

Photo via Google Maps

New Traffic Pattern Coming to Pike Interchange

By ARLnow.com

Traffic pattern change at the Columbia Pike/Washington Boulevard interchangeUpdate at 10:00 a.m. — VDOT says the change has been postponed: “Please note this new pattern has been postponed until January due to additional signal work. A new date for the shift will be announced soon.”

A new traffic pattern will be in effect at the under-construction Columbia Pike and Washington Boulevard interchange starting Thursday.

VDOT says drivers heading eastbound on the Pike will now have a different way of getting to northbound I-395 (toward the District). Now, instead of bearing right after the light at S. Quinn Street, drivers will need to wait to turn left at the light, onto a new ramp to Washington Boulevard.

Those heading to southbound I-395 will still bear right onto the ramp after S. Quinn Street.

“Work to complete the switch will take place between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Thursday,” VDOT said in a press release. “Message signs will be in place to notify drivers of the new traffic pattern.”

“This new access is part of the $51.5 million project to replace the Washington Boulevard bridge over Columbia Pike,” the press release continued. “The project will be complete in summer 2015.”

As part of the project, the new bridge over Columbia Pike opened last month.

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