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UPDATE: GW Parkway Reopens After Sinkhole Prompts Extended Closure

Update on 3/24/19 — The sinkhole has been filled and all lanes of the Parkway have reopened, according to the National Park Service.

Earlier: The northbound lanes of the GW Parkway are closed due to a large sinkhole that was discovered overnight.

Heavy rain Thursday may have contributed to the sinkhole’s formation.

It’s reportedly located near the Dead Run Trail, closer to the Parkway’s junction with the Beltway. The road was completely closed between Route 123 and the Beltway for much of the morning. The southbound lanes were reopened Friday afternoon.

Northbound traffic is being diverted onto Route 123, which in turn had morning rush hour traffic backed up at least a mile and a half past Chain Bridge.

No word yet on when the sinkhole might be repaired, though the northbound lanes are expected to remain closed through the weekend. Crews are currently evaluating the extent of the damage, said to be caused by a broken storm water pipe.

More from a National Park Service press release:

Northbound George Washington Memorial Parkway will remain closed through the weekend as road crews and engineers work to fully assess the extent of the sinkhole and repair the road.

Throughout the day, crews have been working to excavate around a damaged stormwater drainage pipe to determine the best way to safely and effectively fill the void and quickly reopen the road.

Preliminary findings indicate that the sinkhole is about 10 feet deep, 12 feet wide and 30 feet long. Once crews complete the extensive excavation work needed to fully access the damaged area, experts will better be able to determine how long it will take to fully repair the pipe and rebuild this section of road before reopening the northbound Parkway to travel.

As a critical link in the region’s transportation network, closing the George Washington Memorial Park is never a decision that is made lightly. The National Park Service is cautiously hopeful that some travel may be permitted by Monday, but drivers should follow local news or visit www.nps.gov/GWMP for the latest information.

Just before 6 a.m. Friday, March 22 a car traveling northbound in the right lane hit the sinkhole adjacent to the road. The driver lost control of their vehicle hitting a stone wall before coming to rest just off the side of the Parkway. When first responders arrived on scene they determined there was an active sinkhole under the road and initiated a closure of the northbound Parkway.

The driver was evaluated by paramedics on scene but declined any further care.

An initial assessment of the road found a large sinkhole deep under the surface of the roadway that extended for an unknown distance. Out of an abundance of caution, National Park Service maintenance crews in consultation with public safety personnel and experts from the Federal Highway Administration, made the hard decision to also close the southbound lanes.

Further assessment revealed damage to a large concrete stormwater drainage pipe that runs deep below the Parkway. Experts from the Federal Highway Administration worked quickly to better assess the potential risk to the southbound lanes, and ultimately determined is did not post an immediate threat. At approximately 11 a.m. the NPS reopened the southbound lanes for travel.

Sinkholes are common occurrences in the Greater Washington area, and are often preceded by high volumes of rain like the region saw on March 21.

More information will be released when it is available.

More via social media:

Map via Google Maps

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Vienna’s Open Art Studio Moves Across Town and Rebrands

The New York School of Arts — formerly Open Art Studio — has a new home in Vienna at 320 Maple Ave E.

The school, founded ten years ago, is focused on individual-based education in art and design with faculty from programs like Brown and Columbia universities.

The studio had previously been located at 225 Mill St NE.

The school programs range from art programs for children to portfolio reviews for students applying to arts programs.

Registration is currently open for the art foundation summer camp, aimed at students in grades 6 through 8. Classes range from $245 for children under two years old to $760 for older students.

Photo via Facebook

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Here’s a Look at the Summer Concerts Coming to Wolf Trap

The Filene Center at Wolf Trap has an extensive summer lineup featuring famous rockers and R&B groups from the 1970s, 80s and 90s, along with some well-known country artists.

Tysons Reporter rounded up the noteworthy concerts coming to the outdoor amphitheater.

Photo via Wolf Trap 

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Police Search for Answers after Two Puppies Beaten to Death and Left in Tysons Office Park

Fairfax County Police are asking for help in finding whoever beat two puppies to death and dumped their bodies in Tysons last week.

Officers were called last Monday (March 11) to the 1900 block of Gallows Road, an office park in southwest Tysons, where they found the two puppies next to a dumpster, said FCPD.

According to a press release:

A necropsy revealed both puppies died from blunt force trauma to their heads. Their breed was not able to be determined due to their young age. They are believed to have been about a month old. One was a male puppy with a unique blue merle coat and the other was a female with a fawn colored coat.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Officer McLemore at 571-221-8030.

Tips can also be submitted anonymously online, by calling 1-866-411-TIPS, or texting “TIP187” and “CRIMES” to that number. Tipsters are eligible for cash rewards of $100 to $1,000 if their information leads to an arrest.

Fairfax police also reminded animal owners that their pets can be surrendered to the Fairfax County Animal Shelter if they can no longer be cared for.

File photo

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New Orthodontic Business Opening in Tysons Corner Center

A new business is opening at Tysons Corner Center to help people get their teeth aligned.

Northern Virginia Orthodontics is scheduled to open a new location next to the Tori Soudan women’s shoe store at the Nordstrom end of the mall. The business currently has offices in Brambleton and Reston.

The expansion was announced on Feb. 1, along with plans to open a joint location with Invisalign, a clear tooth-alignment treatment.

“Everyone deserves a smile they love,” the business said in a Facebook post, “and now it’s easier than ever to begin your own smile transformation while shopping, dining or just visiting Tysons.”

Mall staff said there was no information available about when Northern Virginia Orthodontics would be opening.

Photo via Facebook

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Here’s a Look at the Major Improvements Planned for Tysons’ Streets

Several new streets and major improvements to existing ones are in the works for Tysons.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors made a small adjustment on Tuesday (March 19) to make developers pay a little more of their share, but the report offers a glimpse at what’s ahead for local roadways.

With no discussion, the Board voted unanimously to approve a 1.9 percent increase in the developer contribution rate to the Road Fund and approval of guidelines for those funds’ usage in Centreville and Tysons.

“One of the principles of the Comprehensive Plan for each of the road fund areas is that development above the baseline level established in the plan may be approved, if developer mitigates the impact of such increased density or intensity by contributing to a fund for the provision of off-site road improvements,” staff said in a report. “All aforementioned road funds function in this manner.”

The staff report also included a list of transportation projects either underway or in planning for Tysons’ streets.

  • Route 123 Improvements: Changes planned for Route 123 in Tysons East in the early stages of being developed as a “superstreet,” which would modify left turn movements to facilitate regional through movement. The project has finished simulations and is currently undergoing initial design.
  • Route 7 Widening and Interchange: A study has been recently completed on a plan to widen Route 7 and implement new improvements at the Route 123 interchange. Stakeholder meetings are planned for this summer.
  • Cleveland Ramp Alternatives: A new ramp is planned to connect the Dulles Toll Road to new sections of the Tysons East grid of streets. Greater access to the Dulles Toll Road is part of several transportations discussions currently ongoing in Tysons.
  • Jones Branch Connector: An alternative access route from eastern to western Tysons passing over I-495. The project is currently in construction with completion planned for this fall.
  • State Street: A new street, named State Street, is being developed to connect Boone Boulevard and Greensboro Drive in Tysons. A study of the project has been completed and options for project implementation are being discussed.
  • Lincoln Street: Another proposed new street to connect Route 123 to Magarity Road, intersecting with Old Meadow Road and other future streets. The core idea for the new street is to move traffic from existing developments northeast of Tysons Galleria to Magarity Road. A feasibility study is ongoing.
  • Center Street: A new street planned within the Tysons urban center. A report is expected sometime this summer.

Many of the new streets listed in the report are centered around the areas northeast of Tysons Galleria and in Tysons East, the points at either end of the Jones Branch Connector and both planned sites for major redevelopment.

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Much of N. Va. Now Under Flood Watch

A steady, soaking rain today may lead to flooding around Fairfax County and Northern Virginia.

The National Weather Service says 1-3 inches of rain will fall today, with the heaviest rain between 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The rain may cause creeks and streams to rise and flood low-lying areas, forecasters say.

More from NWS:

…FLOOD WATCH NOW IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM EDT THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING… THE FLOOD WATCH IS NOW IN EFFECT FOR * PORTIONS OF MARYLAND, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA, INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS, IN MARYLAND, ANNE ARUNDEL, CARROLL, CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST HOWARD, CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST MONTGOMERY, FREDERICK MD, NORTHERN BALTIMORE, NORTHWEST HARFORD, NORTHWEST HOWARD, NORTHWEST MONTGOMERY, PRINCE GEORGES, SOUTHEAST HARFORD, AND SOUTHERN BALTIMORE. THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA, EASTERN LOUDOUN, FAIRFAX, PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK, AND WESTERN LOUDOUN. * FROM 10 AM EDT THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING * A WIDESPREAD SOAKING RAIN OF 1 TO 2 INCHES IS EXPECTED. ISOLATED AMOUNTS OF AROUND 3 INCHES ARE POSSIBLE. THE STEADIEST RAIN IS EXPECTED BETWEEN 10 AM THIS MORNING AND 6 PM THIS EVENING, WITH RESIDUAL RUNOFF POSSIBLY PERSISTING THROUGH LATE THIS EVENING. * THESE RAINFALL AMOUNTS MAY CAUSE SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS TO GO OUT OF THEIR BANKS, AS WELL AS CAUSE FLOODING OF LOW-LYING, URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON CURRENT FORECASTS. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP. &&

Some flight delays have been reported at Reagan National Airport as a result of the rain.

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Victim of Fatal McLean House Fire Identified

Lucy Berkebile, 73, has become Fairfax County’s first fire fatality of 2019.

On Saturday (March 9) around noon, Fairfax and Arlington county firefighters battled a house fire on the 1400 block of Brookhaven Drive. Despite rescue efforts, Berkebile was found dead in the house.

More via a press release from Fairfax Fire and Rescue:

Units arrived on the scene and observed a large volume of fire coming from a two-story, single family home. Neighbors indicated that an elderly female was likely home. Crews worked aggressively to enter the home and initiate an attack on the fire in order to conduct a search for the occupant. The firefighters efforts were hindered by the large amount of fire and exterior obstacles, such as brush, trees, and debris.

Firefighters began an attack on the fire from outside. The fire was quickly extinguished. No firefighters were injured. One occupant was found deceased in the home.

The fire was discovered by a neighbor who called 9-1-1. It is unknown if there were working smoke alarms in the home.

The cause of this fire remains under investigation. Damages as a result of the fire are approximately $398,750.

Photo via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue

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Founding Farmers in Tysons Nominated for Manager of the Year Award

If you stop by Founding Farmers Tysons, be sure to offer congratulations to manager Paris Twyman for her recent nomination as “Manager of the Year” for the 2019 RAMMY Awards.

The RAMMY Awards are an annual competition hosted by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington to celebrate excellence in local restaurants.

Taco Bamba Taqueria, which started in Falls Church and now has locations throughout Northern Virginia and D.C., was also nominated for two awards.

The restaurant was nominated for “Favorite Fast Bites of the Year” and owner Victor Albisu was nominated as “Restaurateur of the Year.”

Photo via Founding Farmers

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Bike Lanes and Sidewalks Scheduled to Open Soon on Jones Branch Connector

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The Jones Branch Connector is coming along, though construction has necessitated a series of weekend closures over the last few weeks.

A video put together by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) laid out the goals of the Jones Branch Connector and a look at what’s ahead for the project.

The project first had a partial opening in December — with one lane of traffic opening in each direction — giving drivers a preview of the bridge that will connect east and west Tysons. According to the video, new bike lanes and sidewalks are planned to open sometime in the spring and a second lane opening in each direction.

“VDOT and Fairfax County have really partnered together to improve transportation in Tysons,” William Cuttler, a VDOT engineer, said in the video. “This $60 million project is going to go a long way to provide multimodal connections and helping to transform this city.”

Cuttler said the connection will aim to not only benefit drivers looking to cross over the Beltway, but also offer residents of western Tysons quicker access to the McLean Metro station at the east end of the bridge.

“Currently the Beltway operates as almost a barrier between the east side of Tysons and the west side,” Tom Biesiadny, director of the Fairfax County Department of Transportation, said in the video, “so building additional connection across the Beltway is really important.”

Mike McGurk, from Transurban corporate relations, said the Jones Branch Connector would also help the accessibility of the I-495 Express Lanes.

The project is expected to be completed this fall.

Photo via VDOT

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