Traffic | ARLnow.com

County Emerges Victorious As State Gives Up HOT Lanes Plan

Published February 3, 2011 at 5:01AM | Updated February 3, 2011 at 10:36AM

Virginia Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton announced today that the state is no longer pursuing its I-395 HOT lanes plan, which the county blocked by filing suit in 2009. VDOT is also canceling plans to upgrade the Shirlington and Eads Street interchanges.

Just hours before the project’s demise was first revealed by the Washington Post, County Board Chairman Chris Zimmerman sent a five-page letter to two top Virginia lawmakers further explaining Arlington’s effort to block the HOT lanes project.

VDOT Trucks Staging for Possible Freezing Rain Tonight

By ARLnow.com

Published January 31, 2011 at 3:51PM

“Another bout of sleet and freezing rain is expected after 7 p.m., and the Virginia Department of Transportation urges motorists to be alert to changing road conditions in northern Virginia tonight,” VDOT said in a statement. “With rain, sleet, and freezing temperatures also forecasted for 4 a.m. tomorrow, drivers are asked to monitor forecasts carefully and postpone or limit travel during the morning rush.”

To help keep roadways clear, the agency has 1,600 trucks staging along Northern Virginia roadways.

GW Parkway Reopened As Crews Clear Abandoned Cars

By ARLnow.com

Published January 27, 2011 at 11:04AM

The road was closed for most of the morning as crews worked to clear snow, fallen trees and abandoned vehicles.

G.W. Parkway drivers spent up to 14 hours in their cars, from yesterday afternoon to early this morning, as fallen trees and collisions blocked the roadway in both directions.

BREAKING NEWS — Motorists Still Stranded on GW Parkway, I-66

By ARLnow.com

Published January 26, 2011 at 10:41PM | Updated January 26, 2011 at 11:27PM

Drivers have been stuck on the George Washington Parkway for 5-6 hours now, according to various reports from Twitter.

The fact that there are no traffic cameras along the parkway has made it difficult to see exactly what’s going on, but Twitter users are reporting that downed trees are blocking all northbound and southbound lanes.

BREAKING NEWS — Bus Service Ending Early, Standstill on I-66, Widespread Power Outages

By ARLnow.com

Published January 26, 2011 at 8:34PM | Updated January 26, 2011 at 10:01PM

Update at 10:00 p.m. — There are now more than 13,400 Dominion customers without power in Arlington.

Heavy, wet snow is continuing to fall in the area, knocking down trees and power lines and grinding traffic to a halt.

Traffic Slows to a Crawl as Snow Covers Roads

By ARLnow.com

Published January 26, 2011 at 5:09PM | Updated January 26, 2011 at 7:27PM

Update at 7:00 p.m. — Downed power lines and falling tree limbs are being reported throughout the area. Dominion is reporting more than 1,200 customers without power in Arlington. Dominion spokeswoman Le-Ha Anderson tells WUSA 9 that it may take more time than usual to restore power due to gridlock on local streets and highways.

Update at 6:10 p.m. — Traffic is at a dead stop on westbound I-66 from the District to Spout Run.

Traffic Grows Thick as Roads Get Slick

By ARLnow.com

Published January 26, 2011 at 3:45PM | Updated July 12, 2017 at 2:16PM

Highways leading out of the District of Columbia are thick with traffic as a steady rain starts to change over to a slippery mix of sleet and snow.

Southbound I-395 and westbound I-66 are both jammed.

VDOT Preparing for “Very Difficult Rush Hour”

By ARLnow.com

Published January 26, 2011 at 1:37PM

VDOT started pre-treating bridges and ramps and other trouble spots on state roads and highways yesterday, according to spokeswoman Joan Morris. Spots on I-66, I-95, I-395 and I-495 were treated with liquid magnesium chloride, while parts of major roads like Route 50 and Route 1 were pre-treated with salt brine.

“Treatment trucks and plows are pre-positioning along interstates, major roads and in subdivisions throughout Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties for quick response,” VDOT said in a statement.

Wilson Boulevard Shut Down in Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

Published January 25, 2011 at 11:13AM | Updated January 25, 2011 at 5:06PM

Update at 3:30 p.m. — The road has reopened.

Wilson Boulevard has been shut down in the area of North Jackson Street and Washington Boulevard in Clarendon.

Part of Lee Highway Shut Down Due to Gas Leak

By ARLnow.com

Published January 24, 2011 at 1:36PM

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.

Emergency Vehicle Preemption, Fiber Optic Line Approved

By ARLnow.com

Published January 24, 2011 at 9:35AM

The board awarded a $651,000 contract to install an emergency vehicle preemption system along the entire Arlington stretch of Lee Highway. The system will allow emergency vehicles to get an automatic green light at approaching intersections, thus reducing travel times and enhancing safety.

“Emergency vehicle preemption technology is critical to saving lives by giving responders safe, speedy passage through intersections and cutting precious minutes off the time it takes to get patients to life-saving care at a hospital,” Arlington Fire Chief James Schwartz said in a statement.

Chain Bridge Road Shut Down

By ARLnow.com

Published January 21, 2011 at 1:03PM | Updated July 12, 2017 at 2:16PM

Chain Bridge Road is expected to remain shut down for the next half an hour as firefighters work to rescue a man trapped in a van that knocked over a utility pole.

Initial reports suggest the driver of a delivery van knocked over a utility pole while backing out of a driveway on the 100 block of Chain Bridge Road, just north of Chain Bridge. Live power lines fell on the van, trapping the driver inside.