Pro-Palestinian protests in D.C. caused major morning rush hour backups on Arlington roads.
Demonstrators blocked several major commuter routes and intersections in the District, including I-395 and Constitution Avenue, bringing inbound traffic to a standstill on the GW Parkway, I-66, Route 50 and I-395. The Virginia Dept. of Transportation diverted drivers from I-66 onto Route 110 and advised others to seek alternate routes.
Some side streets — including in the Courthouse and Rosslyn areas — were also congested as drivers try to avoid the highway backups.
Constitution Ave has reopened in both directions, according to WTOP, which some observers link to arrests made by Metropolitan Police Department. I-395 also recently reopened.
Arlington has seen a handful of pro-Palestine demonstrations since the start of the Israel-Hamas war last October. Most recently, demonstrators camped outside Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s house in Arlington, near the McLean border.
Arlington: Due to demonstration activity on Constitution Ave., all eastbound traffic on 66 is being diverted onto Rt 110. Seek alternate routes or follow police direction. pic.twitter.com/bwW3hfARJu
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) February 1, 2024
List of locations in Washington DC with protestors:
•I-395 North at 14th St NW
•I-395 N at C & D St NW
•23rd St & Constitution Ave NW (clearing soon, arrests made)
⬆️ ROAD CLOSURES ⬆️ #dctraffic
•Most recently Union Station #vatraffic https://t.co/2OjfZYpIS5 pic.twitter.com/mGeRB0x4nF— DMV News Live (@DCNewsLive) February 1, 2024
Demonstrations slowly ending, but traffic delays remain on many downtown DC streets. 3rd St Tunnel ramps still blocked. Rolling demonstration last seen near E St & New Jersey Ave NW. Tune to 103.5 FM and https://t.co/Trjju7KegD for details on the 8s #dctraffic
— WTOP Traffic (@WTOPtraffic) February 1, 2024
Today’s snowfall — the second significant snowstorm of the week after none for two years — is overperforming.
More than two inches have fallen so far and another 1-2 inches is expected through this afternoon, according to the Capital Weather Gang. A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect.
8:47 am: Light snow falling now seems likely to persist into afternoon. Some bands moderate/briefly heavy. 1-2" can fall before it winds down: https://t.co/fqTPCFWPIS
So far..
2.3 inches at National (6.4 this week)
3.1 inches at Dulles (7.5 this week) pic.twitter.com/ZGjmA15RKh— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) January 19, 2024
VDOT and Arlington County crews are out treating local roads. Owing in some combination to the snow crews and the salt already on the roads, major and arterial roadways in Arlington appear to be in relatively good shape on traffic cameras.
“Crews started mobilizing early this morning as areas of snow returned across Northern Virginia,” VDOT said. “Please give them plenty of space on the roads as they work to keep them clear. As always, residents are asked to monitor forecasts, limit nonessential travel, and be aware of the potential for icy spots as freezing temperatures are forecast today into the weekend.”
County crews are now in Phase 2 of storm operations. Know what that means in terms of priority roadways and when or if plowing begins. #ArlWX https://t.co/4wMpLIjBHT pic.twitter.com/TudzEm3B8W
— Arlington Department of Environmental Services (@ArlingtonDES) January 19, 2024
The under-construction portion of the GW Parkway, meanwhile, was temporarily closed earlier today — as it was earlier this week — in anticipation of the snow.
“The George Washington Memorial Parkway, from I-495 to Spout Run, is closed due to the forecasted severe winter weather in the area,” the National Park Service said. “This closure is necessary to ensure the proper treatment of the roadway and to restore the parkway to safe travel conditions. Crews will work diligently to treat the roadway for safe passage of motorists.”
“Motorists should anticipate delays in reopening the north parkway as crews are required to use smaller equipment than usual to accommodate the lane widths and configurations,” NPS added. “Please plan to use alternate routes. A follow-up alert will be distributed once the parkway has reopened.”
As previously reported, Arlington Public Schools is closed today, while the federal government is opening on a two-hour delay. Arlington County government, however, opened on time.
Arlington County Government is open on-time for in-person services on Friday, Jan. 19, 2024; Judicial court proceedings will begin at 10 a.m. Visit the County website for further details. pic.twitter.com/m2uqelSHXL
— Arlington Alert (@ArlingtonAlert) January 19, 2024
Metro and ART bus schedules have been curtailed as a result of the snow.
“Arlington Transit will be shifting to severe service level, only routes 41, 45, 51, 55, 77, 87, 87A and 87P run during this service level,” ART noted just before 9 a.m.
Metro is on a “moderate” snow plan.
“Under the Moderate plan, service will be suspended on some routes and buses detour around roads prone to hazardous conditions, including many neighborhood streets,” WMATA said in a press release. “Customers are advised to travel only if necessary, as snow and ice may create dangerous conditions, causing delays and increased wait times. If snow is blocking the curb, customers are advised to wait on the sidewalk instead of the street until the bus arrives.”
Deicing and snow removal operations are underway at National Airport, but runways are open and flights continuing to arrive and depart.
Yes, it snowing ❄️❄️ and airport runways are OPEN. With more snow through the day, please monitor flight schedules directly with your airlines. Our snow team is ready. pic.twitter.com/fy3E46twQY
— Reagan Airport (@Reagan_Airport) January 19, 2024
Update at 11 p.m. — The Winter Weather Advisory has been upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning.
Earlier: Arlington and the immediate D.C. area is under a Winter Weather Advisory, with several inches of additional snow accumulation expected.
The advisory from the National Weather Service was issued this morning. While light snow is currently falling, adding to the dusting from overnight Sunday into Monday, heavier snowfall is expected later this afternoon and tonight.
From NWS:
URGENT – WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
1011 AM EST Mon Jan 15 2024…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EST TUESDAY…
* WHAT…Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 2 to 3 inches.
* WHERE…Portions of central and southern Maryland, The District of Columbia and central and northern Virginia.
* WHEN…Until 7 AM EST Tuesday.
* IMPACTS…Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions could impact the afternoon and evening commute.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…There will be a brief lull in snow intensity this morning before picking back up again this afternoon. The snow is expected to continue through the night, before winding down just prior to daybreak Tuesday.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
Slow down and use caution while traveling.
When venturing outside, watch your first few steps taken on steps, sidewalks, and driveways, which could be icy and slippery, increasing your risk of a fall and injury.
Winter Weather Advisories are in effect for all of the forecast area through early Tuesday morning. Light snow this morning may ease up around mid-morning before steadier snow overspreads the area mid-afternoon through tonight. Visit https://t.co/ZOlvEShgSf for more details. pic.twitter.com/wyid0dWvAd
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) January 15, 2024
Drivers are being encouraged to take it slow as some local roads remain slick and snow-covered. The National Park Service, meanwhile, has closed the GW Parkway from Spout Run in Arlington to the Beltway — where construction has been taking place.
The closure is “until further notice,” due to safety concerns during the snow.
From NPS:
The George Washington Memorial Parkway, from 495 to Spout Run, is closed due to the forecasted severe winter weather in the area. This closure is necessary to ensure the proper treatment of the roadway and to restore the parkway to safe travel conditions. Crews will work diligently to treat the road for safe passage of drivers. Drivers should anticipate delays in reopening the northern section of the parkway as crews are required to use smaller equipment than usual to accommodate the lane widths and configurations. Please plan to use alternate routes.
A follow-up alert will be distributed once the parkway has reopened. Thank you in advance for your patience.
Flickr pool photo by Tom Mockler
Arlington County will be setting aside $1.6 million for improvement projects on national parkland in the crosshairs of a future pedestrian bridge between Crystal City and National Airport.
The long-discussed bridge, dubbed CC2DCA, is about to clear a major milestone: completion of a federally mandated review of its adverse impacts to the environment and historic properties.
While environmental effects were deemed minimal, several National Park Service-controlled historic resources were flagged for impacts, according to a county report, including the George Washington Memorial Parkway and the Mount Vernon Trail.
The parks service and the county have settled on three improvement projects to mitigate this predicted impact. Once a design contract for the project is awarded, the county will transfer money to NPS for the work. Funding will come from the Crystal City Tax Increment Financing fund, which pays for infrastructure improvements that revitalize Crystal City, Pentagon City and Potomac Yard.
The biggest chunk, $1 million, will go toward planning and implementing improvements at Gravelly Point, as this public area could see more users traveling to and from the CC2DCA bridge via the Mount Vernon Trail.
The site could see a new parking lot, a rehabilitated boat launch — complete with an accessible canoe and kayak launch — relocated public restrooms and improved aesthetics of public-use areas.
“The Gravelly Point site is the closest major Mount Vernon Trail hub to the project area; the new CC2DCA bridge is less than a mile from Gravelly Point,” it continued. “The site rehabilitation will benefit trail users by improving the public amenities and repair deteriorated infrastructure that is in danger of further deterioration with the additional usage generated by CC2DCA.”
Next, $500,000 will fund maintenance activities by the Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail over five years, including edging the trail, replacing boardwalk bridge components like decking, cutting back vegetation overgrowth, grinding out asphalt root heaves and power washing scum from bridge decks.
Lastly, $150,000 to fund planning work to add interpretive signage to the GW Parkway highlighting underrepresented stories from Abingdon Plantation and Arlington House.
These projects are outlined in an agreement between the county and NPS, which the Arlington County Board approved during its Saturday, Dec. 16 meeting.
This agreement also requires the county to give NPS opportunities to review and give input as CC2DCA designs take shape and holds Arlington to executing a plan to protect and restore vegetation along the GW Parkway. The impact on scenic views for drivers, as well as vegetation removal, is expected to be relatively minimal, with about 146 trees removed.
The Board also approved an agreement with the county, NPS, the Federal Highway Administration, the Virginia Dept. of Transportation and the Virginia Historic Preservation Officer. This agreement is one of the final steps in the federally mandated environmental assessment study.
Originally proposed in 2017, CC2DCA was one of the transportation projects identified after Amazon announced plans to build its second headquarters in Arlington.
The last four years have been spent on design work, public engagement and the environmental study. Arlington and VDOT reviewed 16 possible bridge alignments and whittled them down to one that was picked earlier this year.
“Throughout the NEPA study, there has been overwhelming support for a direct multimodal connection between Crystal City and DCA,” the county report said. “During each public engagement period, the vast majority of individuals surveyed indicated they would use a CC2DCA connection if constructed.”
If CC2DCA comes to fruition, construction is expected to begin in late 2027 and last for two years, working around separate plans from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to redo roadways and add more parking, new car rental facility and office space at DCA.
Update at 6 p.m — All lanes have reopened, according to Arlington Alert.
Earlier: All lanes of the GW Parkway in Arlington are currently blocked by a crash.
Police and medics are on scene of a multi-vehicle crash on the southbound GW Parkway near Chain Bridge. At least three people were hurt in the crash and are being taken to local hospitals via ambulance, according to scanner traffic.
Commuters should expect significant delays in both directions on the Parkway, which also has lane closures due to ongoing construction.
LOCATION: George Washington Memorial Pkwy / VA-123 (Dolly Madison Boulevard)
INCIDENT: Traffic Collision
IMPACT: All lanes of GW Pkwy are blocked in both directions in the area of VA-123 (Dolly Madison Blvd.) Seek alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/9PRphmgcN6— Arlington Alert (@ArlingtonAlert) November 3, 2023
Map via Google Maps
After removing several hundred trees, the National Park Service says it’s reopening Spout Run Parkway and portions of the northern GW Parkway today.
The busy commuter routes have been closed in both direction since Saturday’s severe storms.
A northbound lane of the GW Parkway reopened at 1 p.m. and the Spout Run Parkway is expected to reopen in both directions “later today.” Southbound lanes of the GW Parkway remain closed through much of Arlington as crews work to remove “hazardous trees,” NPS said.
The remaining closures may last another day or two.
More, below, from a park service press release.
The entire northbound lane of George Washington Memorial Parkway reopened today at 1 p.m. The northbound and southbound lanes of Spout Run Parkway are expected to reopen later today.
The southbound lane of the Parkway between I-495 and Spout Run Parkway remains closed as crews continue to remove hazardous trees along more than four miles of the roadway.
“The safety of our visitors and staff is our first priority,” Charles Cuvelier, George Washington Memorial Parkway superintendent, said. “Yesterday, crews removed 250-325 hazardous trees, resulting in 100 dump-truck and 15 chipper-truck loads, and more than 500 tons of wood and debris.”
For more information and updates, please visit our website at www.nps.gov/gwmp or contact Christopher Hershey at 202-439-7323.
Tree blocking road on GW Parkway north of Spout Run exit. 2 way traffic pic.twitter.com/axkotniAx5
— Holly Joers (@hokiehol) July 29, 2023
More of the work pic.twitter.com/DEBOXuES12
— Tom Roussey (@tomroussey7news) August 1, 2023
(Updated at 4:05 p.m.) The herculean effort to clean up from Saturday’s storms and restore power to tens of thousands is continuing Monday morning.
The GW Parkway remains closed to most traffic between Spout Run Parkway and the Beltway — and is expected to remain closed until later this week, as crews work to clear a large number of downed trees and branches.
The southbound lanes of Spout Run Parkway, where at least one car was damaged by a fallen tree Saturday, also remain closed.
From a press release issued Monday afternoon:
The George Washington Memorial Parkway is currently experiencing closures due to the aftermath of Saturday’s storm. Crews are diligently working to clear fallen trees from the roadway, and these closures are expected to last for the next few days.
To enhance and expedite the restoration process, George Washington Memorial Parkway has deployed a total of five crews, including its own team, assistance from the National Capital Parks-East (NACE), and three additional emergency contracting crews.
The North Parkway, from Spout Run Parkway to I-495, remains closed, except for the northbound lanes from Route 123 to I-495. Additionally, the southbound lanes of the Spout Run Parkway are also closed.
These closures are necessary to ensure the removal of hazardous trees, including those that have fallen across the roadway and broken limbs that pose a risk to travel lanes. The recovery work is estimated to be completed within three to four days.
Round-the-clock power restoration work whittled down the peak of more than 34,000 without electricity in Arlington — half that of the 2012 derecho — to 3,154 as of 11:15 a.m. Monday, according to Dominion’s website.
The remaining small outages are scattered throughout the county, though most are concentrated in north-central Arlington — between Route 50 and Langston Blvd — including the Orange Line corridor, which was particularly hard hit.
Throughout Northern Virginia, 4,732 Dominion customers remained in the dark this morning, according to the power company. Crews have been working long shifts and overnight to restore power, with much of that effort happening in Arlington.
As of 4 p.m., the outages were down to 2,029 in Arlington and 2,338 throughout Northern Virginia.
So what’s @DominionEnergy doing to get the power back on?
Steve explains much better than me… pic.twitter.com/jDrJfiwOur
— Peggy Fox (@PeggyDomEnergy) July 30, 2023
More storm stories are emerging as the cleanup continues.
In Courthouse, a heavy metal table was blown off a condo patio during the storm’s intense winds and is now stuck high in a tree, above a sidewalk.
“The tree is right across the street from the entrance of the Palatine apartment building,” a tipster told ARLnow on Sunday. By Monday morning, however, the table had been removed by a tree maintenance crew, the tipster said.
Trees came down throughout Arlington, taking down utility lines, blocking roads, and in at least eight known cases falling onto houses. One unlucky family was on their way to Walt Disney World in Orlando when a huge tree smashed into their stately brick house near Lacey Woods Park, we’re told.
For those on the go, it’s not just drivers who have to deal with fallen trees and other debris. A trail cleanup is planned for 5:30 p.m. today on the Mount Vernon Trail near Rosslyn, which “got hit particularly hard,” according to a social media post.
The MVT got hit hard yesterday particularly near @rosslynva. Join us for a post storm cleanup at the southern end of Trollheim Bridge/Bridge 31. We will be removing branches and debris.
Please register so we can plan the number of tools to bring: https://t.co/5b4KDBY28E pic.twitter.com/xHR9By4fuw
— Friends of the Mount Vernon Trail (@MtVernonFriends) July 30, 2023
Additionally, numerous trees are reported to be down on the Custis Trail and at least one park is closed due to storm damage.
“Rocky Run Park is closed for maintenance due to damages caused by the July 29 storms,” said Arlington’s Dept. of Parks and Recreation. “Please do not go onto the park grounds.”
Arlington National Cemetery, meanwhile, is also closed today except for funerals amid widespread tree damage at the nation’s most hallowed ground.
⚠️UPDATE: ANC closed to visitors and pass holders on Monday, July 31 ⚠️
Funerals will still be conducted as scheduled and open to attendees.
Our crew needs a little more time to return ANC to its proper condition before we welcome visitors. We apologize for the inconvenience. pic.twitter.com/3uPTMDjLI5
— Arlington National Cemetery (@ArlingtonNatl) July 30, 2023
More storm damage photos from social media, below.
Following the July 29 storms, there are many downed trees on the County’s trails (like these images from the Custis Trail). We appreciate your patience as crews work to survey and address these areas. Please use caution when using the trails as cleanup will take some time. pic.twitter.com/s8WXxxYIPU
— ARL VA Parks & Rec (@arlparksrec) July 30, 2023
Clarendon pic.twitter.com/VtlraEpAn6
— Elizabeth Hartig Schneider (@Beth867_539) July 30, 2023
Lots of damage in Clarendon @ARLnowDOTcom @washingtonpost @PoPville #VAStormdamage pic.twitter.com/chGPKu4buj
— Claudia Bermudez Buttine (@LoBer81) July 30, 2023
We have some firewood here in Lyon Par if anyone has a chainsaw! @ARLnowDOTcom pic.twitter.com/nnjbrFrfxO
— Kymberly Escobar (@kymesco) July 30, 2023
Blocked the sidewalk! This is Innovation Elementary school grounds. @ARLnowDOTcom @capitalweather pic.twitter.com/G1u8PjcLKz
— HennaThis (@HennaThis) July 30, 2023
The cleanup from Saturday’s severe storms is continuing into Sunday.
As of 9 a.m., Dominion is reporting 20,394 customers still without power in Arlington. That’s down from more than 34,000 immediately after the storm. Arlington makes up about two thirds of the 31,603 outages Dominion is reporting across Northern Virginia.
Dominion says it has 170 bucket trucks deployed and is working “as safely and quickly as possible to restore service.” Due to the large volume of trees and utility lines down across the region — particularly in Arlington — Dominion has not yet been able to provide estimates for when power will be restored.
Outage Update:
32,443 outages in Northern Va.Our patrols continue to gather info on outages so we can set ETRs (estimated time of restoration)
170 bucket trucks are headed to damage locations. Our crews will work as safely & quickly as possible to restore service. pic.twitter.com/5NXKuTWa0m
— Peggy Fox (@PeggyDomEnergy) July 30, 2023
Along with power outages, readers have reported Xfinity TV and internet service outages in parts of the county. The trees that brought down power lines also brought down cable lines in many locations.
The GW Parkway remains closed in both directions between the Beltway and Spout Run in Arlington due to a large number of downed trees.
From parkway spokesman Mark Maloy:
Due to the storm that moved through the northern Virginia area on Saturday afternoon, numerous trees fell across the travel lanes of the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Currently, the northern section of the George Washington Memorial Parkway (from Spout Run Parkway to the Capital Beltway) is closed as tree crews work to remove trees from the roadway. This closure will remain in place on Sunday until an assessment has been completed and all hazardous trees removed. There are numerous other trees downed in areas of the George Washington Memorial Parkway and the Clara Barton Parkway and the National Park Service is continuing to assess the damage and clear trees. We encourage drivers to use caution in the area and if they encounter any downed trees on the George Washington Memorial Parkway to call US Park Police at 202-610-7500.
Tree blocking road on GW Parkway north of Spout Run exit. 2 way traffic pic.twitter.com/axkotniAx5
— Holly Joers (@hokiehol) July 29, 2023
Among the more dramatic storm impacts was a large window that blew out of an apartment building in Clarendon amid the damaging wind gusts.
Witnesses tell ARLnow that the window came from the top of The Reserve at Clarendon building along Washington Blvd, between N. Highland and N. Garfield street.
“Windows missing from 11th floor unit at the Reserve, window frames and glass all over Washington Blvd, dented and damaged parked car [with] window frame next to it,” a reader tells ARLnow. “[The damaged] car was parked outside of Clarendon 1021, a block away. Cracked windows in the building where the Clarendon Orange Theory is (across the street from Reserve). Crazy!”
Police closed streets around the building due to the falling glass, though the roads have since reopened.
“At 7:05 p.m., police were dispatched to the 3000 block of Washington Boulevard for the report of two windowpanes that had fallen,” Arlington County police spokeswoman Ashley Savage confirmed to ARLnow. “No injuries were reported and the roads closed in the area have reopened.”
Videos posted online, below, show the intensity of the wind from Saturday’s storms.
Watch: Many #Arlington neighborhoods had an intense 2 or 3 mins during today's storm around 5:00. Watch these 30 secs in Va Square area. More tomorrow. Check the white sign in the median. From #SafetyVid. @capitalweather @dougkammerer @ARLnowDOTcom @StormHour #weather #stormhour pic.twitter.com/i2Z7tlC0Az
— Dave Statter (@STATter911) July 30, 2023
We couldn't be prouder of the @USArmyOldGuard Soldiers who watch over the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Winds reached 60-85 mph in the DC region. This sentinel leans into it and continues marching.
Honor. https://t.co/WcGAnSl8xL
— Arlington National Cemetery (@ArlingtonNatl) July 30, 2023
Update at 11:20 a.m. on 7/31/23 — The number of outages in Arlington is down to 3,154. The GW Parkway remains closed.
Update at 3:45 p.m. — Outages are now down to 14,313. Arlington County, meanwhile, is warning people to stay out of Gulf Branch downstream from Military Road due to sewage in the water from a pump failure.
AVOID Gulf Branch downstream of Military Road through Monday due to wastewater contamination from a failed pump caused by Saturday's storm. Trail access in the area is also temporarily closed until further notice. Seek alternate route. pic.twitter.com/BWZkSDp6ZU
— Arlington Department of Environmental Services (@ArlingtonDES) July 30, 2023
Update at 1:25 p.m. — The number of outages in Arlington has ticked down to 17,811, according to Dominion. The power company is hoping to have power restored to “most customers” later tonight.
Arlington County says the curbside collection of storm debris may take “weeks.”
Outage Update:@DominionEnergy crews are out in force assessing damage, making repairs & working as safely & quickly as possible to restore power.
Most customers will have power restored by 11 p.m.
In some areas with significant damage, restoration will continue into Monday.
— Peggy Fox (@PeggyDomEnergy) July 30, 2023
🍃Curbside debris removal is ongoing and could take weeks; thanks in advance for your patience. https://t.co/GiA5KJ0Itn
📱Find other helpful resources including utilities and weather hotlines: https://t.co/ILmDvfhFmQ
🚨Subscribe to @ArlingtonAlert: https://t.co/p1E9yfEHyq— Arlington County (@ArlingtonVA) July 30, 2023
Crews are out surveying damage due to yesterday’s storm— prioritizing critical infrastructure. Please use caution when visiting parks and trails and report any downed trees or other maintenance needs through Report a Problem: https://t.co/n8lvg5HltM
— ARL VA Parks & Rec (@arlparksrec) July 30, 2023
Map via Google Maps
The northbound lanes of the GW Parkway are blocked near Potomac Overlook Regional Park in Arlington due to a protest.
Climate protesters associated with the group Declare Emergency blocked the busy commuter route shortly before 8:45 a.m.
U.S. Park Police officers are on the scene.
Northbound traffic on the Parkway is backed up to Spout Run.
Update at 9:25 a.m. — Traffic is starting to move again, according to WTOP and USPP.
Traffic update: Road closures on the George Washington Memorial Parkway have reopened. https://t.co/CNWBkhHXu2
— USPPNEWS (@usparkpolicepio) April 26, 2023
Declare Emergency supporters block traffic because this is an emergency, we all need to act like it!#a22network #ClimateEmergency #ClimateAction #declareemergency pic.twitter.com/wXEglGiu36
— Declare Emergency (@DecEmergency) April 26, 2023
#DeclareEmergency supporters step out onto the #gwparkway to demand climate action. This is nonviolent #civildisobedience, this is done out of love for our fellow humans and our collective future. #A22Network #stopwillow #ClimateAction pic.twitter.com/gwqOsheFwN
— Declare Emergency (@DecEmergency) April 26, 2023
Police are on scene with Declare Emergency protestors on the #gwparkway
We disrupt the status quo for a livable future. #A22Network #declareemergency #climateaction #civildisobedience pic.twitter.com/hM3zvtRloJ
— Declare Emergency (@DecEmergency) April 26, 2023
U.S. Park Police are dealing with a large group of protesters who are blocking traffic on the George Washington Parkway. #VATraffic @ARLnowDOTcom https://t.co/cLchLHsvMP
— Alan Henney (@alanhenney) April 26, 2023
LOCATION: NB George Washington Parkway / Spout Run Parkway
INCIDENT: Police Department Activity
IMPACT: Traffic is blocked on the George Washington Parkway from Spout Run Parkway to Chain Bridge. Seek Alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/JXpMk2Rf5M— Arlington Alert (@ArlingtonAlert) April 26, 2023
Hat tip to Alan Henney. Map via Google Maps.
(Updated at 4:15 p.m.) All southbound lanes of the GW Parkway are blocked by a crash near Key Bridge.
Drivers should expect significant delays in the area, with the backup in the southbound lanes now extending to Chain Bridge.
The parkway has been the scene of numerous crashes around a bend in the road near the bridge, especially during rainy weather days like today.
In another rainy GW Parkway crash earlier today, a vehicle ran off the northbound GW lanes and into the woods near Windy Run. Three occupants were able to get out of the car, per scanner traffic, and at least two were hospitalized.
Video from where Park Police has shut down the George Washington Parkway southbound — right before the Rosslyn exit.
Officers are out in the street telling cars to turn around and head back.
I counted 2 fire trucks, 2 ambulances and at least 3 Park Police vehicles @7NewsDC https://t.co/gRd0tvErxF pic.twitter.com/Epby4BpUUr
— Kevin Kuzminski (@KevinKuzminski) March 3, 2023
LOCATION: George Washington Parkway (SB)/Rossyln Exit (Corrected Update)
INCIDENT: Traffic Collision
IMPACT: All southbound lanes on George Washington Parkway just before the Rosslyn exit are closed. Expect delays and seek an alternate route. pic.twitter.com/XEG25Dsq6t— Arlington Alert (@ArlingtonAlert) March 3, 2023
Map via Google Maps
The northbound lanes of the GW Parkway will be closed this Sunday between Spout Run in Arlington and Chain Bridge Road in McLean.
The closure, from about 6 a.m.-4 p.m., is for the removal of “an abandoned vehicle that is below the road near the Potomac River.”
From the National Park Service:
On Sunday, March 5, 2023, the National Park Service (NPS) will close both northbound lanes of the George Washington Memorial Parkway to remove an abandoned vehicle that is below the road near the Potomac River. The NPS expects to close the lanes between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. from Spout Run Parkway to Chain Bridge Road, VA 123. The southbound lanes will remain open. The NPS will also temporarily close parts of the Potomac Heritage Trail near the vehicle for up to half an hour at a time while the work is happening.
The abandoned vehicle is located below the parkway next to the Potomac River near Donaldson Run. The car left the road during a snowstorm in January of 2022. The driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The crash and rescue happened during snowy conditions on Jan. 3, 2022.
“The driver — the only occupant of the vehicle — was trapped inside the car and suspended upside down, with a broken arm and leg, according to initial reports,” ARLnow reported at the time. “After being extricated from the vehicle, the man is now being brought to a waiting ambulance at Columbia Island Marina via D.C. fire boat.”
This is not the first time in recent memory such a closure of the Parkway has been planned. Indeed, drivers have been running down the Parkway’s steep embankments with some regularity, posing logistical challenges for the Park Service.
In March 2021, a portion of the GW Parkway was closed over the weekend as crews remove two vehicles that ran down embankments and crashed near the river.
Other such crashes since the start of 2021 include:
- Jan. 12, 2021: Two people rescued after a crash in which two vehicles careened off the Parkway near I-395 and ended up in the Potomac.
- Jan. 15, 2021: Another car ran off the road and over an embankment near the second scenic overlook in Arlington, after the suicide of a Jan. 6 first responder
- Oct. 20, 2021: A driver was rescued but suffered serious injuries after their car careened off the northbound lanes and into a thick patch of woods, just north of Spout Run
- Nov. 17, 2022: One person died and another survived after driving into the Potomac near Columbia Island Marina on a particularly cold fall night
The northern portion of the Parkway, where many of the crashes have taken place, is in line for a significant rehabilitation project. As we previously reported:
For the first time since it was built in the early 1960s, the northern section of the GW Parkway will be getting a major overhaul.
The National Park Service announced yesterday that it had awarded a $161 million contract to rehabilitate the Parkway from Spout Run in Arlington to the Capital Beltway in McLean. After a design process in 2022, construction is expected to take place between 2023 and 2025.
Drivers are being cautioned that there will be traffic impacts during construction.
Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) touted the project in a statement, saying such work is overdue. This stretch of the Parkway has had to close at least three times over the past seven years due to sinkholes.
The Park Service, in today’s press release, noted that the Parkway has turned into a major commuter and travel artery, after first being envisioned as a scenic parkway.
The George Washington Memorial Parkway is a scenic roadway and memorial to the first president of the United States. When the NPS completed the northern part of the parkway in 1962, the NPS used the most up-to-date road engineering methods by integrating a wide, gently curving roadway with a grassy median, low stone guide walls and soaring steel-and-concrete arched bridges. Today the George Washington Memorial Parkway facilitates travel for more than 33 million vehicles per year, with the northern section seeing the heaviest traffic of about 85,000 daily users.
As a critical link in the national capital region’s transportation network, closing the parkway is never a decision the NPS makes lightly.