Approximately seven miles of the Dulles International Airport Access Highway going westbound will be closed this weekend (Sept. 11 and 12) for maintenance work on pedestrian bridges.
Starting just east of Reston at mile marker 8.3, traffic will be diverted to the left lane of the Dulles Toll Road. Drivers will be able to enter the airport access road again at mile marker 1.7, near the Route 28 toll plaza and right past the soon-to-be-opened Innovation Center Station.
Ramps at mile marker 9 and 3.3 for the westbound portion of the airport access highway will also be closed.
The closures will run from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day.
All work is weather-dependent, though weather does not appear it will be a factor this weekend.
This work is being done by contractor Capital Rail Constructors as part of its preparations for the opening of Silver Line Phase 2, a Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority official says.
A weekend was chosen to conduct the maintenance work in the hopes of minimizing the closure’s impact on traffic, the MWAA official notes.
Photo via MWAA
Updated at 4:50 p.m. — All lanes and ramps at the Dulles Toll Road/Route 28 interchange have now reopened.
Earlier: All eastbound lanes on the Dulles Toll Road after Route 28 (Sully Road) in Herndon remain closed after a state police trooper crashed into a motorcycle during a pursuit this morning (Thursday).
According to the Virginia State Police, the pursuit began when a trooper tried to stop a motorcycle for speeding on the Dulles Greenway at 9:42 a.m. The biker had been going 84 miles per hour in a 55 mile-per-hour zone.
“The motorcycle refused to stop for the trooper and sped away at an excessive speed,” the VSP said in a news release. “A pursuit was initiated. The motorcycle continued onto the Dulles Toll Road where its operator lost control and crashed.”
Police clarified in an update that the crash occurred when the biker “pulled off to the shoulder and suddenly braked. The trooper was unable to stop in time and struck the motorcycle.”
The motorcyclist, who has been identified as an adult man, was flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital to receive treatment for injuries that police say were life-threatening.
According to the VSP, the motorcyclist reached speeds of up to 130 miles per hour during the pursuit east on the Dulles Toll Road. He was wearing a helmet.
“The crash and pursuit remain under investigation,” state police said. A VSP crash reconstruction team is currently on the scene.
The Dulles Toll Road says all eastbound lanes on the toll road and the Airport Access Highway are closed as of 11:55 a.m. The Virginia Department of Transportation has also closed the ramps from north and southbound Route 28 to the eastbound Dulles Toll Road lanes.
11:55am update: All lanes EB on the Toll Road and Airport Access Highway are currently closed. Follow police direction for detours https://t.co/zlnZhiKquw
— Dulles Toll Road (@Dulles_Toll_Rd) September 2, 2021
All lanes EB onto the @Dulles_Toll_Rd are currently closed due to CRASH involving a Motorcycle. Traffic will be detoured from Greenway to RT 28 South. Follow police direction for detours.
— Dulles Greenway (@GreenwayRt267) September 2, 2021
Photo via Google Maps
Updated at 2 p.m. — Reston Association has closed all of its pools for the remainder of the day “due to “due to the current and continued threat of hazardous weather.”
Updated at 12:10 p.m. — A Tornado Watch has been issued for the D.C. area, including Fairfax County, until 7 p.m.
Updated at 11:30 a.m. — All activities scheduled to take place in Fairfax County Public Schools this afternoon and evening have been canceled due to the anticipated inclement weather.
Updated at 10:25 a.m. — All of the closed roads in Reston have reopened to traffic, except for the Browns Mill, Beach Mill, and Leigh Mill closures listed below, according to a 10:13 a.m. update from the Fairfax County Police Department.
Earlier: Several roads in Reston have been closed after a thunderstorm courtesy of Tropical Depression Ida passed through Fairfax County overnight.
“We are expecting several inches of rain today from the remnants of Hurricane Ida, picking up in intensity in the early afternoon until around midnight,” Fairfax County said in a post on its emergency information blog. “We have already experienced an early morning storm that has led to power outages, swift water rescues and numerous road closures due to downed trees and flooded roads.”
Road closures due to flooding and downed trees have been reported throughout the county, but as of 8:30 a.m., they have been particularly concentrated in the Reston District Station area, according to the Fairfax County Police Department:
Reston District Station
Browns Mill Rd and Pennycress Ln, closed due to down tree
Beach Mill Rd and Clubview Dr, closed due to downed tree
Hunter Mill Rd and Cedar Pond Dr, closed due to flooding
500 bock of River Bend Rd, closed due to flooding
1100 block of Springvale Rd, closed due to flooding
Leigh Mill Rd and Kelso Rd, closed due to flooding
Walker Rd and Murphy Dr, closed due to downed tree
Hunter Mill Rd and Cedar Pond Dr, closed due to flooding
With more rain expected to fall today, the National Weather Service has extended a Flood Warning for northwestern Fairfax County until 11:30 a.m., citing Reston, Herndon, and Great Falls among the areas that could experience flooding.
“At 8:20 a.m. EDT, stream gauge reports indicated water levels continue to rise across the area. Flooding is ongoing,” the NWS said in its alert.
A Flash Flood Watch is also now in effect for much of the D.C. region, including Fairfax County. It is currently set to last through tomorrow (Thursday) morning:
* A round of heavy thunderstorms early this morning may result in localized flash flooding, especially in the Washington and Baltimore Metropolitan Areas. Additional thunderstorms with heavy rainfall are expected across the area this afternoon and evening. Rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches are expected, with localized amounts up to 6 inches possible.
* This amount of heavy rainfall will not only result in the potential for considerable flash flooding of creeks, small streams, and urban areas, but also the potential for river flooding on the main stem rivers.
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department is urging people to avoid driving through flooded or closed roadways, noting that stalled and trapped cars put the driver, passengers, and first responders in unnecessary danger.
“By now, many drivers across Fairfax County know which roads traditionally flood,” the department wrote in a blog post. “FCFRD asks that if you need to be on the roadways today that you stay informed and plan alternate routes around flooded roadways. Our firefighters and paramedics do not want to meet you by (a preventable) ‘accident’!”
A lot of rain throughout today. Several flooded roadways already this morning. PLEASE, do NOT attempt to drive, or walk, through flooded roadways! #TurnAroundDontDrown! Stay weather aware throughout the day! Plan alternate routes! #weather #traffic #FCFRD pic.twitter.com/SmZWO7bvoc
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) September 1, 2021
(Updated at 10:05 a.m.) An Areal Flood Warning is now in effect for Fairfax County.
Between one and two inches of rain had already fallen by the time the National Weather Service issued the alert at 7:18 a.m., with flooding expected to remain a risk until 1:15 p.m.
As of 9 a.m., the Fairfax County Police Department reported numerous road closures, including Hunter Mill Road at Hunter Mill Station due to flooding. A downed tree has necessitated a closure of 10100 block of Wendover Drive in Vienna.
While the heaviest rain and flooding has emerged in the Tysons/Vienna area, construction on Route 7 appears to have contributed to high waters near the Baron Cameron Road intersection in Reston.
@VaDOTNOVA Rt 7 Leesburg Pike West right after intersection of Baron Cameron in N. Reston / Great Falls VA pic.twitter.com/pTX15x8VFq
— Eddie (@WFOcom) August 20, 2021
Another driver reported around 8:05 a.m. that emergency responders had blocked off three lanes of the Dulles Toll Road, possibly around exit 14 at Hunter Mill Road, “due to severe flooding.”
@capitalweather Emergency crews blocking off right 3 lanes of 267-East due to severe flooding pic.twitter.com/eFq1H4NPWp
— B. (Beer Fett) (@beer_fett) August 20, 2021
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department urged people to avoid driving if possible, particularly on roads that are known to be prone to flooding.
Flood Watch Today! Plan Ahead! PLEASE Turn Around-Don’t Drown! Don't attempt to drive car through flooded/closed, roadways. You may stall and become trapped. This puts you, passengers AND #FCFRD firefighters/paramedics in needless danger! More: https://t.co/twEoMAdyMY
#weather pic.twitter.com/YYG5jVaEGg— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) August 20, 2021
At 9:50 a.m., the fire department said that it had responded to three different calls for downed electrical wires and two calls for fallen trees just within the past 25 minutes.
“Assume all wires are power lines & LIVE!” FCFRD tweeted. “Avoid approaching/touching anything nearby. Be careful around downed trees as wires may be hidden in tree.”
In last apprx 25 minutes, #FCFRD has responded to 3 calls for electrical wires down–2 due to fallen trees. Assume all wires are power lines & LIVE! Avoid approaching/touching anything nearby. Be careful around downed trees as wires may be hidden in tree. #weather @fairfaxcounty pic.twitter.com/L0lr6lhaZV
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) August 20, 2021
Virginia Requires Masks in Schools — Gov. Ralph Northam issued a public health order yesterday (Thursday) requiring universal mask-wearing in all K-12 schools in response to concerns about the COVID-19 Delta variant. Fairfax County Public Schools announced a mandate on July 28 that had some exemptions for fully vaccinated individuals, but the district updated its policy on Wednesday (Aug. 11) to require masks indoors for everyone. [The Washington Post]
Fairfax County Opens for Vaccine Site Requests — “Businesses and community event organizers can now request to host a vaccination team to provide COVID-19 vaccines or education/outreach services so that people can learn more about the vaccines. Requests will be reviewed and matched with an outreach or nursing team from the Fairfax County Health Department.” [FCHD]
Route 7 Traffic Changes Coming Next Week — Utterback Store Road in Great Falls will be closed from 9:30 a.m. on Monday (Aug. 16) to 2 p.m. on Friday (Aug. 20) while crews remake the intersection for the Route 7 Corridor Improvements Project. Construction, which will continue until 2024, will also require westbound Route 7 lane shifts from Reston Parkway to Reston Avenue on Aug. 17 and between Utterback Store and Springvale roads on Aug. 19. [VDOT]
Senate Infrastructure Bill Boosts D.C. Area — Metro would receive $150 million annually for capital improvements over the next eight years from the $1 trillion infrastructure funding bill that the Senate approved 69-30 on Tuesday (Aug. 10). The bill allocates more than $8 billion to Virginia for highway and bridge repairs, public transit support, and expansions of the state’s broadband and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. [DCist]
Amazon Partners with Metro on Affordable Housing — Amazon will devote $125 million to fund the construction of 1,000 new affordable housing units on land owned by Metro or near Metro stations. The initiative is intended to help bring more low and middle-income residents closer to public transit and job centers, but it will be up to developers to apply for the funds. [The Washington Post]
County Brings COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic to Reston — The North County Governmental Center (1801 Cameron Glen Dr.) will host a COVID-19 vaccine clinic today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be provided, which has been authorized for adults 18 and older, and walk-in appointments are available. [Hunter Mill District News]
Georgetown Pike Bridge Closes Tomorrow — Georgetown Pike over Difficult Run will be closed to traffic between Old Dominion Drive and Towlston Road in Great Falls from 8 p.m. Friday (June 18) to 4 a.m. on Monday (June 21). The closure will enable crews to make bridge repairs, which will involve some overnight noise from concrete demolition and other construction activities. [VDOT]
Reston Association Yard Sale Returns — The 80 Family community yard sale is coming back on Saturday (June 19) after missing last year due to COVID-19 health restrictions. Scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to noon in the RA parking lot (12001 Sunrise Valley Dr.), the event will include a Kona Ice truck selling shaved ice and a Purple Heart collection truck that will accept donations of unsold items. [Patch]
Reston Software Company Launches Second Year of Scholarship Program — The Ellucian Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the recently acquired company Ellucian, will accept applications for its PATH Scholarship Program until July 14. The program gives higher education institutions block grants of up to $25,000 “to support students facing economic hardship and educational disruptions.” [Ellucian]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Democracy Drive in Reston Town Center Closed — The street will be closed all week for “ongoing infrastructure updates with repairs and modifications being made to the waste lines in the Southwest Building,” a Reston Town Center spokesperson says. The street remains accessible to pedestrians, and all stores are open. [Potomac River Running/Twitter]
Kennedy Center to Fully Reopen in the Fall — The Kennedy Center will hold a grand reopening in September, launching an extensive lineup of performances and activities to celebrate its 50th anniversary. A limited number of in-person concerts are also being planned for this spring and summer. [Washingtonian]
Task Force Proposes Strategies to Preserve Affordable Housing — Fairfax County Affordable Housing Preservation Task Force presented a report to the Board of Supervisors yesterday (Tuesday) with recommendations for maintaining the county’s approximately 9,000 existing market affordable multifamily units. [Fairfax County Government]
Reston Startup Raises Millions in Funding — The cybersecurity startup ThreatQuotient Inc. raised $22.5 million in equity and debt funding that it hopes to use to accelerate the growth of its data platform, which gives clients information they can utilize to automatically detect and respond to threats. The company says it saw “record bookings and revenue growth” last year. [Washington Business Journal]
Celebrate National Beer Day at a Local Brewery — National Beer Day comes every year on April 7 to mark the end of the Prohibition-era ban on the sale and consumption of low-alcohol beverages like beer. Local options for celebrating include Herndon’s Aslin Beer Company as well as Bike Lane Brewery and the Lake Anne Brewhouse in Reston. [Patch]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Multiple lanes are closed on the Dulles Toll Road just after Reston Parkway after a 40-gallon fuel tank leaked earlier this morning.
The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department expects three or four lanes to remain shut down for roughly an hour, according to a statement released earlier today.
No injuries have been reported and the leak is under control.
⚠️ Traffic Alert (7:45 a.m. Wednesday): Due to an overturned truck, multiple lanes are blocked on the Westbound Dulles Toll Road at Exit 12.
Expect delays and follow police direction.
The ramp to Exit 12 (S.R. 602/Reston Parkway) is also blocked .
— Dulles Toll Road (@Dulles_Toll_Rd) December 23, 2020
Units on scene of a box truck on its side on Route 267 Westbound just after Reston Parkway. 40 gallon fuel tank was leaking. Leak has been stopped. No injuries reported at this time. 3 of 4 lanes are shut-down – potentially for an hour. Seek alternate route. #FCFRD #traffic pic.twitter.com/Y6Jc64x2Oi
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) December 23, 2020
Monroe Street in Herndon has reopened after a downed power line forced the road closure earlier today.
According to the Fairfax County Police Department, the road was closed between Iron Forge Road and Meadow Hall Drive.
FCPD encouraged drivers to find an alternate route.
TRAFFIC UPDATE: Monroe Street is now open. Thanks for your patience. https://t.co/LIZQTn6PHo
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) October 5, 2020
The Virginia Department of Transportation’s project to widen Route 7 is well underway and is on track to finish by summer 2024.
The project planned to “improve almost seven miles of Route 7 between Reston Ave. and Jarrett Valley Drive,” according to Jennifer McCord, the Northern Virginia Communications Manager for the Virginia Department of Transportation.
As of right now, there are several traffic shifts and new traffic patterns along the Route 7 Corridor as crews place temporary asphalt for the road widening as well as intersection reconstruction, according to McCord. She added that noise walls will be added later as most of the work is completed.
At the beginning of the project, VDOT set a $313.9 million budget, and according to McCord, they are still on track to complete within that budget.
As of June 2020, from Reston Avenue to Riva Ridge Drive making up Area 1 West, there has been continued storm sewer installation, relocated communication lines, installation of an underdrain, continued construction of a stormwater management pond and cement stabilization, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation project website.
In Area 1 East from Baron Cameron Ave. to Carpers Farm Way, construction completed cement stabilizations, placed base asphalt, shifted eastbound Route 7 lanes towards the median, began reconstruction of Delta Glen Court pavement and built a retaining wall west of Baron Cameron Ave.
In Area 2, the Baron Cameron Intersection, Stage 2 construction was pending right-of-way acquisition.
In Area 3, Difficult Run Area, there was continued relocation of communication utilities.
In Area 4, Faulkner Drive to Jarrett Valley Drive, there was the construction of a stormwater management pond, asphalt was placed for temporary pavement in the median and they completed shoulder strengthening along the eastbound lanes, according to the website.
Since fewer people have been traveling since the pandemic, the number of allowable work hours extended because of the decrease in traffic volume.
“Due to the 40-60% decrease in traffic volumes in parts of March and April, VDOT was able to grant select contractor requests for extended allowable work hours,” said McCord.
Improvements at Towlston Road were completed in October 2019, and a new triple left turn at Baron Cameron Ave. was completed early and has been open for about a year, said McCord.
The website continues to post lane closure updates for the following week every Friday.
Photos courtesy of Jennifer McCord
A two-car crash along Springvale Road has sent one person to the hospital with minor injuries and caused the road to close.
Fairfax County sent out an alert about the crash and road closure near the intersection of Parkerhouse Drive at 9:46 a.m. today (Friday).
Sgt. James Curry, a police spokesperson, told Reston Now that one person was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The road is currently closed in both directions, Curry said that it is expected to reopen soon.
Image via Google Maps
A felony hit and run incident closed Reston Parkway at Stevenage round today (Wednesday) shortly after midnight.
Police believe a man driving a black 2016 Honda Fit was traveling northbound on Reston Parkway when he crossed over into opposing traffic on the other side of the road and hit a black 2003 Toyota Corolla.
The man attempted to flee the scene by foot, but was caught after a helicopter-assisted pursuit. The suspect, whose name has not been publicly released, was taken to a local hospital after he was bitten by a police K9.
Police said the man was “combative” when officers attempted to arrest him. Charges are pending.
No other information about the incident was released publicly.
This story has been updated.
Fox Mill Road Closed This Week — The road will be closed between Loveless Lane and Throughbred from today at 8 a.m. until Thursday (May 23) at 4 p.m. The closure was rescheduled from last week. [Virginia Department of Transportation]
What Lurks in Reston’s Lakes — Check out what experts found out about the creatures that live in each of Reston’s lakes. A recent survey revealed information about the different types of fish in the area and their general health. [Reston Today]
Conquering Home Improvement Season — In honor of Building Safety Month, county officials offer some tips on how to tackle home improvement projects, including swimming pools, new decks, gas appliances, play houses, and hiring a contractor. [Fairfax County Government]
Flickr pool photo by vantagehill
Fox Mill Road Closure Rescheduled – The closure, which was originally planned for this week, has been pushed to next week from Monday, May 20 to Thursday, May 23. After that weekend, the road will close against from Tuesday, May 28 to Thursday, May 30. Closures are in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each weekday. [Virginia Department of Transportation]
Walking through Selling Your Home in Reston — Shellie Calloway, a Reston Association staff member who works on covenants, walks members through the process dictated by the Virginia Property Owners’ Association Act. Requirements include RA’s disclosure packet. [Reston Today]
Big Capital Bikeshare Growth Planned — “A recently completed study of the potential for bikeshare in an area largely along Virginia Route 123 from Tysons through Vienna, the City of Fairfax and the George Mason University area recommends expanding Capital Bikeshare into most of that corridor, with future consideration of dockless options particularly in lower density areas.” [WTOP]
Flickr pool photo by vantagehill
A construction company is installing sanitary sewers lines for the temporary station off of Cameron Glen Drive.
As a result, one lane of Town Center Parkway will be closed periodically starting on Thursday (May 16) for roughly two weeks.
Bus stop #3597 for the Fairfax Connector will be temporarily closed as well.
Riders should use bus stop #3596, which is south of Cameron Glen Drive behind the Reston District Police Station.
Plans for the new Reston Fire and Station 25 are in motion.
