Rain closes roads, causes traffic jams

Published June 27, 2006 4:00am ET



Heavy rains caused mudslides that shut down theBeltway at the Telegraph Road interchange in Northern Virginia, causing major delays in the Monday morning commute.

Officials fear that predicted downpours could lead to flash flooding today. Alexandria spokesman Brian Hannigan said the ground was completely saturated, and any additional showers would accumulate as runoff.

Flash flooding would likely lead to more traffic headaches today, officials said.

As of mid-Monday afternoon, ramps from Eisenhower Avenue to the Beltway remained closed due to the slides.

Telegraph Road was reopened at around 10 a.m. Monday morning, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

A number of intersections in the region remain closed well into the afternoon. In Arlington, the intersection of 24th Street South and South Kenmore is closed due to the collapse of a sinkhole, said county spokeswoman Mary Curtius.

For Monday’s morning commute, a number of major roads in Arlington were closed, including Washington Boulevard between Columbia Pike and Route 50, Washington Boulevard exits northbound from Route 395 and the George Washington Parkway southbound at Reagan National Airport.

Alexandria spokesman Hannigan said that a number of sinkholes had opened up in Alexandria as well, but metal plates had been placed over them. He said there were no significant road closures in the area.

Flooding has caused a number of closings. In Prince William County, the intersection of Linton Hall and Harness Shop Roads is closed.

A number of intersections in Fairfax County remain closed. The intersections at Old Courthouse and Besley roads, Clifton and Newman roads, Union Mill at Route 29, Waples Mill at Oakton Road, Poplar Tree and Braddock Road, and Westfields and Poplar Tree roads are closed, the transportation department said.

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