Gas Leak Shuts Down Roads in Buckingham
Update at 1:35 p.m. — The “all clear” has been given. Road closures are now being lifted.
Earlier: A two square block area in the Buckingham neighborhood, near the Gates of Ballston apartment complex, has been closed to vehicle and pedestrian vehicle due to a gas line rupture.
Construction workers ruptured a 2 inch gas line outside an apartment building at the corner of 4th Street N. and N. Thomas Street, according to scanner traffic. Washington Gas is on scene making repairs while firefighters stand by.
Police have shut down 4th Street between Glebe Road and George Mason Drive, and N. Thomas Street between N. Henderson Road and N. Pershing Drive.
The road closures may soon be lifted, however, as Washington Gas has reportedly shut off the gas to the ruptured line.
File photo
Minor Gas Explosion at Whitlow’s
(Updated at 10:05 a.m.) A small gas explosion injured a repair person at Whitlow’s (2854 Wilson Blvd) in Clarendon last night.
The incident happened around 6:00 p.m. A repair person was working on a stove at the restaurant when some gas that had built up in the stove ignited, according to Arlington County Fire Department spokesman Capt. Gregg Karl.
The repair person was injured by broken glass, Karl said. The injuries were non-life-threatening.
On Twitter, the restaurant said it “had to close for 20 minutes” after a “small incident with our oven.” No additional information about the incident or the victim is available at this time.
Photo courtesy Mark Alves. Hat tip to David Johnson.
UPDATED: Gas Line Break in Crystal City
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.
Gas Main Rupture Near Ballston
Arlington police and firefighters are shutting down part of Henderson Road near Ballston due to a gas main rupture.
Henderson Road is being closed between Glebe Road and N. Thomas Street, according to scanner traffic. Some buildings on the block may also be in the process of being evacuated.
Washington Gas is en route to the scene.
TRAFFIC ALERT: Washington Blvd Closed for Gas Leak
Update at 12:20 p.m. — Firefighters have cleared and drivers can now get through on Washington Blvd. Washington Gas remains at the scene.
Earlier: Drivers should avoid the area of Washington Blvd near N. Highland Street, where a gas leak is causing traffic trouble.
Washington Blvd is shut in the eastbound/southbound direction at N. Highland Street, and in the westbound/northbound direction at N. Garfield Street, while firefighters investigate a reported leak in a four-inch gas line at a construction site. Washington Gas is also on the scene.
Police are helping to direct traffic at the scene while workers fix the problem. It’s recommended that pedestrians also avoid the area until the leak is fixed.
Possible Problems with Gas Line Along Route 50
Washington Gas is investigating possible problems with a 16-inch gas transmission line that runs along Route 50 and Fairfax Drive in the Radnor – Fort Myer Heights area near Courthouse.
Authorities have received multiple calls from people in the area who have smelled mercaptan, the odor additive in natural gas, according to Arlington County police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck. Washington Gas has apparently traced the smell back to the gas transmission line, but it’s unclear what exactly is wrong with it. Road construction is taking place in the area, but Sternbeck said the gas company is investigating whether the weight of the vehicles passing by on westbound Route 50 is what’s actually causing problems.
Earlier road closures in the area have been lifted, Sternbeck said. Crews from VDOT and Washington Gas are still on the scene, trying to determine the extent of the problem.
File photo
Pershing Drive Shut Down Due to Gas Leak
(Updated at 1:35 p.m.) Pershing Drive has been closed at N. Cleveland Street, between N. Barton Street and N. Danville Street in the Lyon Park neighborhood, due to a reported gas leak.
So far crews aren’t sure how big the ruptured gas line is, but there are concerns that it may be a larger distribution line.
Police are redirecting traffic around the leak until the gas company can patch up the line. The leak is three blocks from Fort Myer and one block from an apartment construction site.
Update at 12:50 p.m. — We hear that Pershing Drive will remain closed for “a couple of hours” while gas company crews dig up the street to reach the leak.
Glebe Road Closed Due to Gas Leak
Update at 4:35 p.m. — The leak has been stopped. Police are reportedly preparing to reopen the southbound lanes of Glebe Road.
Update at 3:55 p.m. — From Arlington Alerts: “Both north and southbound Glebe Rd will be closed between N. Pershing Dr and N. Piedmont St through evening rush hour due to an outside gas leak. Please Avoid traveling in the area if possible.”
All lanes of Glebe Road are closed near N. Pershing Drive due to a gas main rupture.
Traffic is backed up in the area as police redirect traffic. Crews from Washington Gas are on the scene digging up part of Glebe Road in an effort to repair what’s said to be a 3 inch gas line.
Arlington County says Glebe Road is expected to remain closed for an “extended time” — possibly several more hours.
This is the second time this month that Glebe Road has been closed due to a gas leak. On Jan. 6 the busy commuter artery was closed for part of the evening rush hour after contruction crews accidentally ruptured a gas line at Glebe Road and N. Piedmont Street, two blocks away from today’s incident.
Gas Leak Reported at Wakefield High School
Update at 11:10 a.m. — The leak has been traced to the construction site where the new Wakefield High School is being built. Students are expected to be let back into the school shortly.
The Arlington County Fire Department is investigating a possible gas leak inside Wakefield High School.
Firefighters are laying out fire hoses while they try to find the source of a gas-like odor in the school, which has been evacuated.
Police are also responding to the scene to assist with traffic control. Chesterfield Road is being blocked off in front of the school.
Central Library Evacuated Due to Gas Odor
Arlington Central Library (1015 N. Quincy Street) was evacuated around lunchtime today due to an odor of gas in the building.
Firefighters investigated the odor, but have since left. Library spokesman Peter Golkin says the library was back open as of 1:45 p.m.
So far there have been no reports of anyone becoming sick because of the odor, Golkin said.
BREAKING NEWS — Route 50 Shut Down Due to Gas Leak
Update at 4:15 p.m. — The gas leak has been stopped and all lanes of westbound Route 50 are now open.
Earlier: The westbound lanes of Route 50 have been shut down near Fairfax Drive in Courthouse due to a gas line rupture.
Firefighters are reporting that a 16-inch gas transmission line has been ruptured in the area of the 10th Street Bridge. The closure of westbound Route 50 is expected to last at least another hour while Washington Gas works to shut off the gas and repair the line.
The eastbound lanes of Route 50 were shut down for a short period of time, but have since reopened. Still, significant traffic issues are being reported in the area. In addition to cars, police are also turning pedestrians away from the area.
This stretch of Route 50 has been the scene of on-going utility work.
Morning Notes
Spring Cleaning For Bikes — Forecasts suggest we’re in for two very nice days to end the work week. It’s going to be warm enough that many seasonal cyclists may be thinking about dusting off their bike for a spin. Local cycling advocate Mark Blacknell has advice for getting your bike into proper riding condition after a winter in storage. [Patch]
Gas Company Urges Residents to Report Leaks – A public forum about gas leaks didn’t attract a large crowd, but it did feature officials from Washington Gas who asked residents to report leaks as soon as they smell them. [Sun Gazette]
Construction on Ballston Development Moving Along — Work is well underway on a new 10-story, 316,000 square foot office building at 800 North Glebe Road in Ballston, the former site of Bob Peck Chevrolet. Tenants are expected to start moving in next March. [CityBiz]
Arlington Wins Transparency Award — Arlington County has received a 2011 “Sunny Award” from the nonprofit Sunshine Review. The honor is bestowed on dozens of local governments each year for transparency on the web. Arlington’s web site earned a “perfect website transparency score” from the organization, which is dedicated to state and local government transparency. [Sunshine Review]
Flickr photo by Cobalt123
Meeting to Address Gas Leaks in Arlington
Just about every day, the Arlington County Fire Department responds to at least one report of a gas leak, and anecdotal evidence suggests that the leaks might be getting more frequent.
The county’s gas infrastructure includes older gas lines from the 1930s and 1940s that may be especially prone to failure. This winter, changes in temperatures have been especially unkind.
Most leaks are reported to be outside and underground. Generally, those are less dangerous, although larger leaks can sometimes prompt authorities to cordon off the area around the leak. Occasionally, the leak is inside a building, which is usually considered more dangerous due to the potential for the gas to build up in the structure. Inside gas leaks often require the building to be evacuated.
All gas leaks are costly in terms of repairs, which often require digging, and the expended time of first responders.
To address the issue, the Columbia Heights Civic Association will be holding a public meeting on Monday, March 14 called “Natural Gas Leaks — What Can We Do?” The meeting, which is open to residents of all Arlington communities, will address the larger gas leak problem as well as the question of what one should do if they smell gas.
“People are not really aware of what to do,” said Sara McKinley, who’s organizing the meeting. “We really need to encourage people when they smell gas… to call it in.”
A representative from Washington Gas will be in attendance.
“Washington Gas will participate in the meeting to discuss natural gas safety and reliability,” said Ruben Rodriguez, the company’s director of corporate communications. ” The company will also address questions from those attending the meeting.”
McKinley says Arlington is “plagued” by gas leaks, but the meeting won’t be able assigning blame.
“This isn’t a question of bashing the gas company,” she said. “If anything, we want to be supportive.”
BREAKING NEWS — Gas-Fed Fire in Clarendon Neighborhood
Update at 3:22 p.m. — The gas has been shut off the fire is out. Residents in the area can expect to be without natural gas for some time. Earlier:
A gas-fed fire is burning near the intersection of 12th Street and North Cleveland Street in Clarendon. Washington Gas has brought in heavy equipment in an effort to shut off the gas that’s fueling the flames.
The fire was apparently sparked after construction workers who were installing streetlights ruptured a gas line. Eight-foot high flames have been shooting up from the sidewalk since about 1:45 p.m. A construction vehicle is stranded next to the flames, but no structures are on fire.
Firefighters are on the scene spraying water on the flames to keep the vehicle’s gas tank from exploding. Police have shut down numerous streets. Firefighters have pushed the growing crowd, including Arlington Office of Emergency Management employees, farther back from the scene as a gas smell becomes more pervasive in the area.
Gas company workers, who had been trying to shut off the gas by turning ground valves, are now using a backhoe in an apparent attempt to reach a shutoff valve.
Part of Lee Highway Shut Down Due to Gas Leak
The westbound lanes of Lee Highway (Old Dominion Drive) have been shut down near North Vermont Street due to an outside gas leak.
The fire department is on the scene of the leak. No word on when the lanes will reopen.
