The Alexandria Police Department urged drivers to slow down after saying a driver was issued a ticket earlier this week for going 112 miles per hour in a 55 mph speed zone.

Police said an Alexandria Police Department officer was on his way to work on Wednesday when he issued a citation for the driver going over twice the legal limit at Van Dorn Street and I-495.

The charge was listed as reckless driving for speeds in excess of 85 miles per hour.

Doing 112 in a 55 mph speed limit? Are you serious? True story. Yesterday on his way to work, an APD officer issued this citation to someone at 495 and Van Dorn going TWO times the speed limit. Slow down. There is no need to put your life or someone else's in danger. pic.twitter.com/is5eMLQDcc

— Alexandria Police (@AlexandriaVAPD) March 7, 2024

The Virginia Dept. of Transportation is mulling expanding the Express Lanes system to a section of I-495 from Fairfax County across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and into Maryland.

The city of Alexandria, however, is skeptical of the current plans, as many of the alternatives come down to adding traffic lanes. Staff say these changes could hamper attempts to get people out of their cars and onto public transportation, including future transit across the bridge.

VDOT has wrapped up a study of how to improve transportation and reduce rising congestion along this segment of I-495. So far, it has come up with several preliminary alternatives, including adding general purpose lanes, express lanes or reversible express lanes and allowing part-time shoulder use.

“We are evaluating transportation improvements that would extend and provide continuity of the express lanes system on the southern section of the Capital Beltway,” said VDOT project manager Michelle Shropshire in a September public meeting.

In his most recent newsletter, Mayor Justin Wilson said the city has expressed to VDOT its concerns regarding “induced demand, increased cut-through traffic, potential impediments to future transit connectivity over the Wilson Bridge and more.”

“The City has generally had a ‘cautiously skeptical’ stance towards similar proposals in the past,” Wilson said. “We have worked with the Commonwealth to ensure that these projects generate revenue for transit initiatives and include protections to prevent such efforts from exacerbating cut-through traffic on City streets.”

Traffic on I-495 — between Route 1 and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge — is also a concern, however.

There is severe eastbound congestion from 3-7 p.m. starting at the Van Dorn Street interchange, Shropshire said.

“Travel through this area is often impacted by accidents,” she said. “During the Covid pandemic, there was a significant decrease in traffic volumes but we are currently experiencing traffic at or above pre-pandemic volumes.”

Now that a slate of alternatives have been identified, the next step for VDOT is to gather feedback and select a handful to evaluate via an environmental assessment. People can learn about the project and answer a short survey online or write to VDOT with their comments.

A preferred alternative is expected to emerge next spring.

In his newsletter, Wilson shared what city staff said about the study in a letter sent to VDOT sent last month:

1. The criteria provided, including continuity of the Express Lane system, seem to bias the selection of alternatives towards those that include new Express Lanes, rather than those that prioritize transit and transportation demand management measures.
2. Additional lanes may lead to additional demand on; therefore, increased traffic on the facility overtime.
3. Reduction in congestion may reduce the number of crashes, but it could cause increased severity of crashes as vehicles are able to travel at higher speeds.
4. Express Lane options could add constraints on providing new transit, specifically Metrorail lines on this corridor and across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in the future.
5. New access points from I-495 to and from Alexandria could cause increased traffic on City streets.
6. Right-of-way impacts have not yet been identified, and project limits should be minimized to minimize the impacts on adjacent and nearby properties.

VDOT has said that the alternatives it will consider for I-495 will be informed by a concurrent transit study.

In addition to incentives for riders, this recently completed transit study recommends new bus service, arguing it would be more cost-effective than rail, per the September presentation.

Woodrow Wilson Bridge was designed with additional space for future transportation needs and to accommodate future rail across the bridge, according to VDOT.

“Future rail service on the bridge would not be precluded by 495 Southside Study alternatives,” says the transportation agency.

A 51-year-old Alexandria man was killed in a crash last week near the Eisenhower Avenue exit on Interstate 495.

Virginia State Police reported that Martin Warner, Jr. was killed at 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 12, when his 2003 Mercedes Benz crashed into a tractor-trailer that had to “rapidly slow in speed” due to mechanical issues.

Warner was not wearing his seatbelt and was killed. The driver of the tractor-trailer, a 36-year-old Arlington resident, was wearing his seatbelt and was transported to the hospital with serious injuries.

The crash remains under investigation, according to VSP.

An alleged carjacking that turned fatal last Friday derailed that week’s Top Stories post, but the weekly roundup returns.

That carjacking, unsurprisingly, was the top story of this past week.  Jordan Poteat, an 18-year old from Maryland, was killed by the driver of the vehicle. Another alleged carjacker, 18-year-old Mikell Morris, was injured and arrested, and two juvenile males, both 15 years of age, were also arrested and charged with carjacking. Poteat’s mother told local news stations that her son didn’t deserve to die, regardless of his alleged crime.

There weren’t many other happy stories in the roundup of top stories. The city is planning around a Metro shutdown — again — and two people were killed in a crash on the Beltway early Friday morning. Both the city and local advocacy groups are scrambling to prepare for a wave of evictions that could take place as protections expire in June.

On the bright site, some local restauranteurs found a trove of baby formula and donated it to a local non-profit and the Freedom House Museum is finally set to reopen.

Top stories

1. UPDATED: One killed at Potomac Yard gas station shooting
2. Two killed in Beltway crash in Alexandria
3. Police: Three teenagers arrested after fatal Potomac Yard carjacking
4. Virginia State Police identify two men killed in I-495 crash near Telegraph Road
5. City of Alexandria lays out Metro replacement plans for fall shutdown
6. Police: D.C. man pointed gun at woman after getting locked out of West End apartment
7. Alexandria Hyundai owner says special use permit puts dealership’s future on the line
8. Resident advocacy group racing against time to prevent wave of Southern Towers evictions
9. Juvenile assaulted and robbed by four males near Seminary Plaza Shopping Center
10. Man arrested for allegedly threatening to kill West End woman over lost money and jewelry

Work to expand the I-495 Express Lanes to the north is only just warming up, but the Virginia Department of Transportation is now turning its attention to the southern end of the Capital Beltway.

The I-495 Southside Express Lanes environmental study is evaluating possible express lane additions on an 11-mile stretch of the corridor east of the I-395 interchange in Springfield to Maryland Route 210 in Prince George’s County.

Crossing over the Potomac River, the corridor currently has two to five lanes typically, though a divided highway splits local and pass-thru routes. There is also a portion with six lanes, but the corridor overall has no express lanes presently.

VDOT presented its proposal at a virtual meeting yesterday (Wednesday), kicking off a series of meetings during a public comment period that’s slated to end June 6.

In-person meetings will take place tonight in Maryland, Monday (May 23) at John R. Lewis High School in Springfield, and the Nannie J. Lee Memorial Recreation Center in Alexandria on May 25.

The study is seeking to reduce congestion, address safety concerns and provide other improvements.

“In the morning, there is significant congestion going in the westbound direction, or from Maryland towards Virginia,” Abi Lerner, a VDOT engineer for megaprojects, said during the virtual meeting.

According to VDOT’s weekday data for the interstate, there’s approximately two hours of congestion in the morning from around 6:30 to 9, Lerner said. In 2019, average travel speeds could be as low as 30 mph during peak commuting times.

In Virginia, there’s significant congestion for an even longer time frame from approximately 3 to 7 p.m. for traffic going eastbound to the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge.

Expressing several concerns, resident Poul Hertel asked for the public comment deadline to be extended to June 18. VDOT said that would be considered and updated, if possible, on its project page.

The study is also evaluating whether express lane exit and entry connections could be added, an idea that drew mixed reactions.

“It’s very distressing to see that you have exit points into Old Town Alexandria,” Hertel said. “I would strongly urge you to remove that from your list.”

Meanwhile, multiple Maryland residents weighed in, with Prince George’s County Councilmember Jolene Ivey noting the area’s opposition to toll lanes there.

Lerner responded that whatever VDOT ultimately recommends “is going to require buy-in…from the Maryland side” of the Beltway.

Oxon Hill resident Howard Herrnstadt said it seems that a small number of affluent and time-stressed motorists use existing express lanes, questioning how the infrastructure expense would be justified.

Lerner said VDOT has seen significant usage of the express lanes for carpooling, which enables drivers to use them for free, but he was unable to provide data. Herrnstadt challenged that narrative.

According to VDOT, the proposed changes wouldn’t interfere with the possibility of light rail in the future, which the Woodrow Wilson bridge was designed to accommodate.

The study will inform any recommendations, including no changes, or potential projects in the future. VDOT plans to present options this fall or winter and finish its review in the fall of 2023 or winter of 2024.

Alexandria Police have released the identities of the two men killed on Insterstate 495 near Telegraph Road on May 12.

Abdellah Bougrine, 54, of Alexandria, and Driss Bougrine, 59, of Fairfax, died after being hit by vehicles after the 2016 Toyota Corolla they were driving stopped in the middle of the road. The two men got out of the Toyota and were then hit moments later by two vehicles.

“(The) male driver and male passenger exited the Toyota and were outside of it when the Toyota was struck moments later by a westbound 2000 Ford Ranger pickup truck,” Virginia State Police said in a release. “Both the driver and passenger were also struck. The impact of the crash caused the Toyota to run off the right side of the interstate and into the guardrail. The Ford came to rest on the left shoulder. A westbound 2008 Mazda Miata also struck one of the men.”

A GoFundMe campaign for the men raised $15,500, and is no longer accepting donations.

No charges have been filed, and the crash remains under investigation, according to VSP.

There are major traffic delays leading up to Interstates 495 and 395 in Alexandria, as a trucker convoy protesting COVID-19 mandates has entered D.C. and created miles of backups.

Traffic snaked all the way down to Jefferson Manor, just south of Huntington, which is about a half-mile from the interstate.

The convoy drove through the area last week without incident.

Heads Up, Friends! There's expected to be increased commercial and passenger vehicle traffic on the Beltway (I-495) and I-395 today.

— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) March 14, 2022

California, New York and Pennsylvania where just some of the trucks that are currently grinding traffic to a halt on 395 north… police and DDot blocking access to downtown. Soooo if you happened to be trying to get home like me, it’s going to be a while… pic.twitter.com/oztQNCUyWE

— Tommy McFLY (@TommyMcFLY) March 14, 2022

#BREAKING: Expect heavy traffic delays along I-395, Southbound DC-295 to I-495 due to the trucker convoy from Hagerstown. @DCPoliceDept are closing some streets and exits into DC to keep traffic moving. https://t.co/L1sdaVv9hy

— 7News DC (@7NewsDC) March 14, 2022

(Updated 4 p.m.) On person has been arrested for a Fast and Furious-style illegal street race on I-495 near Telegraph Road this weekend.

According to a press release, the police became first aware of the incident on Saturday around 11:15 p.m. when an officer on patrol heard loud exhaust sounds from I-495.

“Upon receiving an alert from Virginia State Police about vehicles racing in the area of I-495 and Telegraph Road, Sergeant Ryan Waple positioned himself to observe 3-4 vehicles traveling in a group, positioning themselves to race,” APD said in the release. “The drivers of two vehicles, including a silver Mustang GT, then revved their engines and accelerated. Sergeant Waple followed with due regard for safety, as the vehicles reached speeds of 105MPH. At that point, he activated his emergency equipment and successfully stopped and apprehended the driver of the Mustang GT.”

Police arrested one person for racing and reckless driving by speed, and impounded his Mustang GT.

The arrest is the latest in a coordinated campaign with Virginia State Police to address speeding and racing issues. The release noted that there are often community frustrations created by loud noise, but noted that state legislation prevents officers from initiating traffic stops for vehicles for offenses like altered exhaust systems.

“This type of behavior is dangerous to anyone these drivers are sharing the road with and will not be tolerated,” said Chief Michael Brown in the press release.  “We want to commend Sergeant Waple for his effort to stop this reckless behavior.”

A 49-year-old Alexandria tow truck driver was killed on Monday night as he responded to a disabled vehicle on Interstate 495, according to Virginia State Police.

Derrick A. Marbury was responding to a disabled vehicle on I-495 southbound when a 2015 Ford Edge was rear-ended by a 2013 Honda Pilot. The Honda went off the road and hit the tow truck, and Marbury reportedly ran out of the way and was struck and killed by a 2015 Mercedes-Benz M35.

“The Virginia State Police Fairfax Division Crash Reconstruction Team responded to the scene and is assisting with the ongoing crash investigation,” Virginia State Police said in a statement. “This is all the information we have at this time.”

The incident occurred less than a mile north of Route 236 in Fairfax County, according to police.

File photo

Traffic on either side of the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge is expected to come to a standstill shortly before midnight tonight (Tuesday) due to a passing ship.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) tweeted earlier this afternoon that the span would be opened around 11:30 p.m. to allow a 247.5-foot “superyacht” to pass through. The closure is likely to cause traffic backups on the Beltway.

“Expect delays and consider alternate routes,” the transit agency warned commuters.

Alexandria: The Woodrow Wilson Bridge will open tonight at 11:30PM to allow the Bella Vita yacht (Google it) through. Expect delays and consider alternate routes. @MDSHA

— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) October 1, 2019

The ship causing all the fuss is the Bella Vita, a six-deck vessel for up to 12 guests and 22 crew.

According to its website, the Bella Vita costs $708,872 a week to charter and comes with a movie theatre, salon and gym — and is described by owner Moran Yacht & Ship as a “rugged luxury yacht.”

Formerly known as the Northern Star, the luxury yacht was built in 2009 and was at one point valued at $181 million, before being remodeled.

The Wilson bridge rarely opens, but makes exceptions for large ships, like the historic tall ships on their annual pilgrimage to Alexandria.