(Updated at 4:50 p.m.) Traffic in the Tysons and McLean areas is extraordinarily heavy due to the tanker truck crash on the Beltway.
With the Inner Loop completely blocked before the American Legion Bridge — and the closure and hazmat cleanup expected to continue for hours — traffic is spilling onto other local arteries and bridges.
(As of 3:45 p.m., a single lane of the Inner Loop had been temporarily opened to allow some traffic through.)
A solid line of very heavy traffic has been reported on eastbound Route 123 (Chain Bridge Road) from downtown McLean to Chain Bridge, which is also jammed. Arlington County Police have been called to the intersection of Chain Bridge Road and N. Glebe Road to assist with gridlocked traffic.
Elsewhere in McLean, Route 193 (Georgetown Pike) is a virtual parking lot between the Beltway and Route 123. The northbound GW Parkway exit to the Inner Loop is closed, following an earlier, complete closure from Route 123 to the Beltway. And in Arlington, police are responding to reports of very heavy traffic in Rosslyn approaching the Key Bridge.
The Inner Loop itself, meanwhile, is a solid line of slow-to-stopped traffic from Merrifield to the crash scene. VDOT is advising motorists to avoid it altogether.
Folks, do not attempt to get on the Inner Loop at this time. Period. And if a responder is behind you, find a way to move. Period. Your National Capital Region responders are amazing, but they need to get there in order to help. https://t.co/PljWNJgC2L
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) March 28, 2019
Virginia State Police say they’ve deployed additional resources to the area to help with traffic control. Drivers should “plan ahead for detours and delays,” VSP said in a press release, which notes that charges are pending in connection to the crash.
At 1:52 p.m. Thursday (March 28), Virginia State Police responded to a crash involving an overturned tanker truck. The crash occurred in the northbound lanes of I-495 at the American Legion Bridge. Another vehicle struck the tanker truck as it overturned in the roadway. Neither the driver of the truck nor other vehicle was injured.
The tanker is loaded with approximately 8,500 gallons of fuel, which must be unloaded/pumped into another tanker before the overturned vehicle can be brought upright and removed from the scene.
Additional Virginia State Police resources have responded to the scene and manage traffic control. VSP is working with VDOT, U.S. Park Police, and Fairfax County Police to detour and redirect travel throughout the area. Motorists are advised to avoid the Inner Loop, northbound I-495 Express Lanes and the northbound lanes of the American Legion Bridge through evening rush hour.
The crash remains under investigation. Charges are pending.
More via social media:
This is a first for us (and a career highlight)— we’re enroute with 2 of our Incident Management Coordinators (1 is already there) to the overturned tanker at the AL Bridge with two of our spill support trailers. Let’s talk about Traffic Incident Management! pic.twitter.com/fkVxHtKhHq
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) March 28, 2019
INCIDENT: Traffic Delays
LOCATION: National Capital Region
IMPACT: A major accident has occurred NB I495 at the American Legion Bridge in Fairfax County. Expect delays and heavy traffic in the region throughout rush hour. pic.twitter.com/OO0E2gWp3e— Arlington Alert (@ArlingtonAlert) March 28, 2019
Update at 3:55 p.m. — Tow crews are on scene and one far left lane is now temporarily squeezing by the crash, but VDOT says it will soon completely close the highway again. The closure, which is expected to last throughout the rush hour, is causing serious traffic issues across the area.
The Inner Loop of the Beltway is closed for an extended period of time due to a truck crash prior to the American Legion Bridge.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue say the tanker truck, which overturned on northbound I-495 near the Great Falls exit, is “actively leaking” 8,500 gallons of hazardous fluid, initially reported to be fuel.
Hazmat crews are “aggressively” working to contain the leak, but the Inner Loop is expected to remain closed for at least two hours and possibly longer, well into the evening rush hour.
Only one minor injury was reported.
The crash was caught on a dashcam, per a video posted on social media.
https://twitter.com/LAMillennium/status/1111345425087385601
More from social media:
UPDATE HAZ MAT incident: tanker contains 8500 gallons of product and is activitely leaking. Crews are working aggressively to contain the product and stabilize the incident. #FCFRD https://t.co/jKui9rMAH4
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) March 28, 2019
Update: ALL Inner Loop lanes are now closed at the American Legion Bridge. Pls use an alternate route. https://t.co/O13MnmKihO
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) March 28, 2019
Multiple vehicles involved, across all five lanes of the inner loop at the Legion Bridge, the tanker truck cab is over the jersey wall, northbound 495 is CLOSED #breakingnews #mdtraffic #vatraffic @nbcwashington pic.twitter.com/FbONV99KoX
— ʙʀᴀᴅ ꜰʀᴇɪᴛᴀꜱ (@Chopper4Brad) March 28, 2019
The left lane of the Inner Loop is only temporarily open in order to flush the queue through. Pls assume the American Legion bridge will be closed thru rush hour. Plan accordingly! pic.twitter.com/6wOmMbYmuH
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) March 28, 2019
UPDATE HAZ MAT incident I495 NB. Driver of the truck not injured. One minor injury from one of cars. #FCFRD #traffic pic.twitter.com/kTLUzFuioY
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) March 28, 2019
Updated at 4:45 p.m. — Police identified the pedestrian at 72-year-old Chandra Bhandari, of Falls Church. According to police, Bhandari was found dead at the scene.
“Preliminarily, detectives believe Bhandari was crossing the on-ramp from eastbound Leesburg Pike to southbound I-495 between 6 and 6:30 a.m. and was hit by a vehicle,” police said in a press release. “The motorist did not stop and drove away from the scene. Speed appears to be a factor for the driver. Neither alcohol nor drugs appear to be factors for Bhandari.”
Earlier: Police are investigating after a driver struck and killed a pedestrian at the ramp from eastbound Leesburg Pike onto southbound I-495.
Fairfax County Police believe the crash happened around 7 a.m. this morning (Tuesday).
The vehicle involved fled the scene shortly after the incident, they say.
Police briefly closed a section of the highway to account for the investigation, but most of Leesburg Pike has since reopened to traffic. The eastbound ramp to southbound I-495 remains closed.
Our Crash Reconstruction Unit is investigating after a pedestrian was hit and killed at the ramp from eastbound Leesburg Pike to southbound I495. The vehicle involved left the scene. Eastbound Leesburg Pike remains closed for the investigation. Please avoid the area. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/xvfCAPKdPM
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) February 26, 2019
Photo via VDOT
A reporter with local CBS affiliate WUSA 9 was on assignment during yesterday’s snowfall when she came upon a single-vehicle crash on Great Falls Street in McLean.
A y0ung woman had lost control of her Jeep Patriot on the snow-covered road, spun, hit the curb and damaged a front wheel, disabling the vehicle. The reporter, Peggy Fox, helped the driver get help and also helped to direct traffic before police arrived.
The responding officer offered some advice to others driving in the snow: slow down.
That wasn’t the only story Fox filed yesterday. She also caught up with sledders at the popular sledding hill behind nearby Lemon Road Elementary School.
Arconic Scraps Plan to Move to Tysons — “New York City-based Arconic Inc. has decided not to relocate its corporate headquarters to Tysons, following announcements this week of a new chief executive and plans to split into two companies.” [Washington Business Journal, Wall Street Journal]
Crash Closes Road in McLean — Georgetown Pike was closed in both directions at Tebbs Lane in McLean by a multi-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon. [Twitter]
Beyer and Wexton on ‘Face the Nation’ — “Democratic Virginia Reps. Don Beyer and Jennifer Wexton renewed their calls for Gov. Ralph Northam and Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax to step down over their respective controversies” on CBS’s Face the Nation Sunday morning. [CBS News]
Academic Competition for Local Students — A 10th grade BASIS Independent McLean student won first place in the 2019 Northern Virginia History Bowl Junior Varsity Division, an eighth-grader won The Langley School’s 2019 National Geographic Bee, and the Oakcrest School in Vienna sent three teams to compete at the regional Science Olympiad earlier this month. [McLean Connection, InsideNova, Fairfax Times]
Screen capture via @DildineWTOP
(Updated at 4:50 p.m.) The westbound lanes of W. Broad Street in the City of Falls Church were closed Wednesday afternoon due to a crash.
Both westbound lanes and one eastbound lane of W. Broad Street were closed between Oak and Spring streets, according to the city. The lanes reopened prior to 3:30 p.m.
The crash involved two vehicles, one of which flipped on its side. One female vehicle occupant was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, we’re told.
UPDATE: Both westbound lanes are closed as well as one eastbound lane. https://t.co/PKmnbcmCGV
— City of Falls Church (@FallsChurchGov) January 30, 2019
Three lanes of northbound traffic are closed on I-495 are closed near the American Legion Bridge due to a jackknifed tractor trailer.
The crash was reported around 2:30 p.m. on the northbound lanes of the Beltway near Georgetown Pike, just before the bridge. As of 3 p.m., VDOT cameras showed traffic backing up past Tysons to around the Route 7 interchange.
Three lefthand lanes of the Beltway are currently closed. Virginia State Police, firefighters, an ambulance and a heavy duty tow truck are currently on the scene.
Firefighters contained a small fuel spill from the crashed truck, according to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue.
In addition to the northbound delays, traffic heading southbound is also backed up prior to the crash scene, with delays extending to the top side of the Beltway in Maryland.
Units on scene of jack-knifed tractor trailer I-495 NB at Georgetown Pike in McLean. No injuries. Small fuel leak quickly contained by firefighters. Left three lanes of I-495 NB are blocked due to crash. @VSPPIO also are on scene. #FCFRD #traffic #vatraffic pic.twitter.com/3dV60xVXCF
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) January 18, 2019
Photo via VDOT
A vehicle caught on fire and stopped two lanes of traffic on the Beltway near Tysons this afternoon.
The burning car was stuck in the left lane of the southbound side of the Beltway near the Dulles Toll Road.
The fire occurred around 1 p.m. and was the scene was cleared by 2 p.m. There were no immediate reports of injuries.
#Tysons Outer Loop near Dulles Toll Rd, vehicle fire along the left side #vatraffic #dctraffic pic.twitter.com/X1OcrdU08m
— Jerry Booth (@TrafficBooth) December 21, 2018
https://twitter.com/WTOPtraffic/status/1076180484525297667
Photo via Twitter
Big backups have formed on the Inner Loop of the Beltway due to a jackknifed tractor trailer.
The crash happened in the northbound lanes of I-495 between I-66 and Route 7, north of Merrifield. Two lanes of traffic appear to be getting by the crash scene, based on traffic camera images, but major backups have formed.
One person was reported injured and has been transported to a local hospital.
Units on scene of jack knifed tractor-trailer I495 NB Prior To Leesburg Pike. One person transported to area hospital. 3 main lanes closed on I495 NB due to crash. Only right lane is open. Unknown duration. @VSPPIO on scene. pic.twitter.com/ykya39bSIJ
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) December 3, 2018
(Updated at 9:30 a.m.) Despite some dramatic photos, no one was injured in a fiery crash around 5 a.m. this morning (Tuesday) on the 8500 block of Georgetown Pike.
The single-vehicle crash happened just west of the entrance to the Madeira School and south of Great Falls Park. The car involved caught fire shortly after the collision, but its driver — the only person inside — was able to get out.
According to Fairfax County Fire and Rescue, units from McLean, Great Falls, and Wolf Trap all responded to the crash and were able to quickly extinguish the fire.
