BREAKING: Traffic Nightmare Continues As I-495 Inner Loop Remains Closed

(Updated at 9:45 p.m.) Traffic throughout Arlington has reached apocalyptic levels as the closure of the Beltway’s Inner Loop continues well into the night.

Shortly before 2 p.m., a tanker truck overturned as part of a multi-vehicle crash just prior the American Legion Bridge. The cleanup from the crash and the hazmat response from a fuel spill prompted the complete closure of I-495 northbound before the bridge, sending tens of thousands of drivers bound for Maryland and D.C. into Arlington to try to make it across the remaining Potomac bridges.

In Fairfax County, that has meant gridlock on main eastbound arteries like Chain Bridge Road and Georgetown Pike. In Arlington, it has resulted in the following almost unthinkable traffic scenarios as of 9 p.m. on an otherwise clear and calm day:

• Both directions of I-66 are jammed between Glebe Road and the Roosevelt Bridge.
• Northbound N. Glebe Road is a virtual parking lot for more than two miles from just past Washington Golf and Country Club to Chain Bridge. The backups have been getting longer as the night goes on.
• Northbound Military Road is a solid line of traffic from Zachary Taylor Park to the Glebe Road on-ramp. Police have shut down access to the road at Nelly Custis Drive, according to a tipster.
• Side streets in the Old Glebe neighborhood are filled with cars attempting to find shortcuts.
• Eastbound Route 50 is “in gridlock from Pershing Drive.”
• Numerous highway on-ramps throughout Arlington have been closed by police to try to control traffic.
• Eastbound Lee Highway is backed up to the MOM’s Organic Market.
• Multiple intersections in Rosslyn are reported to be near-gridlock near Key Bridge, with police on scene directing traffic.
• Northbound I-395 is crawling past Pentagon City.

The Inner Loop remains completely closed and is expected to remain closed until midnight or later.

The nightmare traffic has led to hours in the car for commuters and some frayed nerves. Police have responded to numerous reports of road rage incidents, as well as crashes on traffic-clogged streets.

More from social media:

#FCFRD and @mcfrs HazMat crews currently working to transfer gasoline from overturned trailer. They have successfully offloaded one pod (1/4 of product), they have 3 pods left. Anticipate completing operation in next 2 hours after which @VaDOTNOVA will work to upright tanker. pic.twitter.com/CL3wIeDO6H

— Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) March 29, 2019

@ARLnowDOTcom Old Glebe neighborhood bumper to bumper on a residential side street akin to exiting and re-entering Highway Texas style pic.twitter.com/ytNwPvLAHT

— ladytotteringhall (@LadyMRG) March 29, 2019

just came down Washington Drive by Ft Myer, crazy traffic all over! Did one tanker truck do this? Imagine if a determined foe tried something??

— EdwardPernotto (@Edward_Pernotto) March 29, 2019

16th St has a line of red tail lights too by Rhodes. Never seen that before.

— Emily S. Miller (@mlymllr) March 28, 2019

Glad I’m a bike commuter today! Arlington Blvd in gridlock from Pershing Drive Eastbound ⁦@ARLnowDOTcom⁩ ⁦@WABADC⁩ #DCtraffic ⁦@BikeArlington⁩ pic.twitter.com/lXV6Qc0RoU

— Ned Wharton (@NPRNedWharton) March 28, 2019

I have moved possibly 2 miles in 2 hrs and am nowhere near Chain Bridge. I’m not even at CIA. I ate all of my snacks, drank all of my water, am watching my gas tank diminish & most importantly missing @VanessaVanjie on @RuPaulsDragRace. Someone save me!

— Sandy Rosenblatt (@sandybeach28) March 29, 2019

Good news: the residual traffic is finally clearing out. 14th Street, Memorial and Roosevelt bridges are clear. Key Bridge has traffic but the approaches are clear. Traffic on N. Glebe and Rt 123 is slowly trickling out over Chain Bridge. pic.twitter.com/2r2C64uqCI

— Arlington Now (@ARLnowDOTcom) March 29, 2019

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