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

Extraordinarily heavy traffic on N. Glebe Road

Map showing heavy traffic in and around Rosslyn (via Google Maps)

Heavy traffic on Military Road approaching Glebe Road and Chain Bridge

(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.