VDOT | ARLnow.com

Glebe Road Bridge Replacement to Begin This Summer

Published May 20, 2011 at 10:24AM

The agency says construction on the new bridge will begin this summer and will wrap up in fall 2012 — a bit later than originally anticipated. The entire 100-foot-long bridge deck will be replaced with pre-cast concrete panels, and will be 27 feet wider than the existing bridge. The extra width will be used to install a 10-foot wide sidewalk, a 17-foot wide shared-use path and a new northbound turn lane. There will also be new traffic signals, “decorative wrought-iron picket fencing” and LED lighting.

On Thursday, June 2, at 7:00 p.m., VDOT will hold a ‘pardon our dust’ meeting for community members at Thomas Jefferson Middle School (125 S. Old Glebe Road).

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VDOT’s Detours During Route 50 Interchange Project

By ARLnow.com

Published May 16, 2011 at 9:13AM

Construction on the new Route 50 / Courthouse Road interchange is set to begin this month.

The project, which is expected to wrap up in 2013, will result in major improvements to what is now a rather confusing and even dangerous series of on and off-ramps. In the meantime, however, drivers will have to put up with some minor headaches as the project forces the closure of some busy routes and ramps, starting later this year.

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Sketches of New Courthouse Interchange Released

By ARLnow.com

Published April 27, 2011 at 12:52PM

If you’re used to seeing the ugly, dangerous Route 50/Courthouse Road interchange, get ready for a big change. VDOT has released some sketches of what the interchange will look like by 2014.

Next month VDOT will begin work on a $39 million project to revamp the aging, confusing mess of on-ramps and off-ramps. The interchange’s bridges will be rebuilt and dedicated acceleration/deceleration lanes will be added.

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Large Pothole Flattens Tires On I-395

By ARLnow.com

Published March 1, 2011 at 10:40AM | Updated March 1, 2011 at 11:25AM

At least a half dozen cars suffered flat tires after hitting a big pothole on southbound I-395 this morning.

The pothole is located in the left lane between the 14th Street Bridge and the exit for Route 1, according to VDOT spokeswoman Jennifer McCord.

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Crumbling Glebe Road Bridge Slated for Replacement

By ARLnow.com

Published February 14, 2011 at 4:22PM

The bridge has raised concerns recently as chunks of concrete began falling anew. On Friday, rush hour traffic was snarled when a chunk of concrete fell from the bridge onto a westbound lane of Route 50 around 4:30 p.m. Police shut down the bridge and one lane of Glebe Road for more than an hour as a result.

The falling concrete actually left a hole in the roadway from which one could look down and see the highway below, according to Arlington County Director of Transportation Dennis Leach. Over the weekend, VDOT patched up the part of the bridge from which the concrete fell.

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TRAFFIC ALERT — Glebe Road Shut Down at Route 50

By ARLnow.com

Published February 11, 2011 at 5:51PM | Updated February 11, 2011 at 7:49PM

Update at 7:50 p.m. — All lane closures except one northbound lane on Glebe Road have been lifted.

Both directions of Glebe Road have been shut down and one lane of westbound Route 50 has been blocked due to chunks of concrete falling off the overpass.

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Arlington Will Withdraw HOT Lanes Suit

By ARLnow.com

Published February 8, 2011 at 6:15PM

Arlington County announced tonight that it will be withdrawing its controversial lawsuit against the proposed High Occupancy Toll lane project on I-395. VDOT revealed last week that it’s no longer pursuing HOT lanes on the Arlington and Alexandria portions of I-395, at least partially due to Arlington’s suit.

The county issued the following press release about its decision to halt legal action against the HOT lanes plan.

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Local Officials Celebrate HOT Lanes Decision

By ARLnow.com

Published February 3, 2011 at 1:51PM

Arlington County officials and local lawmakers are celebrating VDOT’s decision to scrap its plan to build High Occupancy Toll lanes on the Arlington and Alexandria portion of I-395.

Here’s the county’s official press release:

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County Emerges Victorious As State Gives Up HOT Lanes Plan

By ARLnow.com

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.

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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.

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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.

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VDOT Plans to Expand Eads Street Off-Ramp

By ARLnow.com

Published January 21, 2011 at 8:45AM | Updated January 21, 2011 at 9:52AM

VDOT is planning to widen the ramp from the HOV lanes of I-395 to Eads Street in Pentagon City.

The project would add an extra turn lane to the ramp, which often gets backed up during the morning rush hour. The ramp serves commuters heading to both Pentagon City and to the Pentagon itself. The left turn necessary to head to the Pentagon parking lots is a bit tricky, leading to some of the backups.