After the permanent closure of the 200 block of King Street to vehicular traffic was approved last year, Alexandria is making upgrades to the block.
The Alexandria Department of Transportation & Environmental Services announced plans to add permanent improvements to the pedestrian block. The last city budget allocated $350,000 to make improvements to the 200 block pedestrian zone.
Alexandria has pushed back the timeline on a project to stabilize the Taylor Run stream and sanitary sewer infrastructure at risk of damage from erosion.
The city’s Department of Transportation & Environmental Services Stormwater Division and design consultant AECOM hosted a community briefing Monday (July 20) to present the 60% design on the Taylor Run Infrastructure Stabilization Project. The $2.1 million project is based on recommendations from the Taylor Run Consensus Building Group, a stakeholder group formed to address community concerns from the previous stream restoration proposal. The former proposal drew controversy over its environmental impacts, leading City Council to send the full stream restoration back to study in 2021.
A hazardous materials spill onto Duke Street in the West End prompted a partial road closure and police and fire presence Monday morning.
Around 8:07 a.m., the Alexandria Police Department and Alexandria Fire Department responded to a call in the 5300 block of Duke Street about white powder substance falling from a truck.
With about four months to go until the City of Alexandria completely bans the use of gas-powered leaf blowers, the city government will hold a meeting Tuesday on specifics of the ban.
Residents, business owners, property owners and landscapers are invited to the meeting on the ban from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, July 21. There are options to attend in person at the Charles Houston Recreation Center in the preschool activity room or virtually through Zoom (meeting ID 972 6916 1416 and passcode 575982).
The city is getting ready for a potential 2027 start date on one of its biggest projects to address stormwater flooding in Lynhaven and the northern part of Del Ray.
The city held a meeting on the Commonwealth, Ashby, and Glebe Flood Mitigation Project last Thursday (June 4) at the Leonard “Chick” Armstrong Recreation Center. Since the last community meeting in 2025, the project has received final design plans, and the city is preparing to solicit a construction contractor. It is also coordinating with utility owners for utility relocation to accommodate new stormwater infrastructure. Summer 2027 is the tentative construction start date.
Alexandria is holding a public hearing tonight (Tuesday) on its plan to improve safety at a high-crash location on Duke Street while reducing neighborhood cut-through traffic.
The Duke Street and West Taylor Run Intersection Project has been in the design stage since 2024, with construction estimated to occur in 2027 and 2028. The final design of the project will wrap up this year, according to the city.
Two alternatives to a larger plunge pool for the Taylor Run stream stabilization project — with fewer impacts to trees — were proposed as the project moves closer to construction.
The city is conducting the Taylor Run Infrastructure Stabilization project on about 1.7 acres around Chinquapin Park near Alexandria City High School. It replaced the original stream restoration project that City Council sent back to study in 2021 amid controversy over its environmental impacts. The project aims to address erosion around the stream while protecting surrounding infrastructure, including sanitary sewer pipes, manholes, stormwater pipe outfalls and the park’s trail.
Alexandria spent $9.7 million on the Jan. 25 snow storm response, the bulk of which was attributed to outside contractors brought in due to the challenges of clearing “snowcrete.”
The winter storm brought about 8 inches of snow followed by hours of sleet and freezing rain that created a solid layer of ice on top. According to an after-action report presented to City Council Tuesday, contract services cost the city $8.4 million. City labor cost about $600,000, while materials, supplies, food and lodging for employees cost $700,000.
One westbound lane has reopened near 5005 Duke Street after Alexandria staff and police responded overnight to a water main break in the area.
Virginia American Water is currently responding to the main break, which the Alexandria Police Department reported on Facebook shortly after 11 p.m. yesterday (Monday). The break prompted APD to close westbound lanes at the scene, and as of 12:45 a.m. today (Tuesday), one lane had been reopened.
Snowplows will be roving around Alexandria tomorrow morning (Friday) as part of an annual training exercise.
The “dry run” training is part of the Department of Transportation & Environmental Services’ yearly effort to prepare for winter weather. Residents should expect to see plows and other “winter response vehicles” on the streets, according to a city announcement.
