Kirby Road in McLean to be Closed for Weeks Due to Storm Damage

Update on 7/10/19 — Both lanes of Kirby Road from Dolley Madison Blvd. to Claiborne Drive are open, but traffic barriers have been set up past that, according to information from the Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management and forwarded by Dranesville District Supervisor John Foust.

Earlier: Severe weather damage will keep Kirby Road closed in McLean to through-traffic for the foreseeable future.

The road runs from Dolley Madison Blvd near the George Washington Memorial Parkway down to Great Falls Street. But flooding at Pimmit Run from storms yesterday means that while residents in the area are able to access their homes, the route no longer connects Dolley Madison Blvd to Old Dominion Drive.

https://twitter.com/VaDOTNOVA/status/1148731850686439424

“We have no specific timeline, but it will be weeks,” Ellen Kamilakis, a spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Transportation, told Tysons Reporter. “The water tore right through the road [and] exposed the area underneath all the way.”

RT @FairfaxCountyPD: The 1300 block of Kirby Road in McLean suffered extensive damage due to today’s storm. It will be closed for significant time until the damage can be assessed and repaired. #FCPD #FairfaxCounty #TurnAroundDontDrown pic.twitter.com/VeV7ILqmDZ

— Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) July 8, 2019

Part of the upper asphalt is visible carved away by the storm, but Kamilakis said the damage underneath is so extensive that the road would not be able to support the weight of a car. Kamilakis said the road will require complete reconstruction — and a review of whether the road needs stormwater upgrades.

Earlier today (Tuesday) traffic on the road was stopped near Dolley Madison Blvd as the crew worked to finish clearing a debris-cluttered bridge, but Kamilakis said the closure will be tightened up to just the area immediately surrounding the broken section of the road.

Kamilakis said the cleaning crews had been working overnight to clear away the debris, and the VDOT Twitter noted that the efforts were rewarded by one local man who brought water to the workers.

KINDNESS MATTERS: Crews have been working on Kirby since last PM. This nice resident brought our crews water. This def makes up for a couple residents who were (unfortunately) not so kind about us not letting them walk across a washed out road. PLEASE don’t cross our barriers! pic.twitter.com/Q1iTPDqoIQ

— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) July 9, 2019

Those trying to get from northern McLean to areas near Arlington will either have to go thrown “downtown” McLean or go further east to Glebe Road.

A significant section of Kirby Road between Chesterbrook Road and 123 is closed. Drivers should avoid Kirby in this area if possible.

VDOT crews will be working to make repairs to the road overnight and emergency personnel are on-site to escort residents to their homes. #McLean

— John Foust (@johnfoustva) July 8, 2019