Friday, March 14, 2008
Gas Line Breaks Diverts Traffic, Draws Superintendent
Construction crews cut a one-and-a-quarter inch gas line while installing a new storm drain system along N. George Mason drive this afternoon, shutting down traffic in both directions along the road between N. Fourth Street and N. Henderson Road.
Students at K.W. Barrett Elementary School, at the north end of the block, were kept inside as Dr. Robert Smith the schools’ superintendent, toured the site.
The children are expected to be dismissed at the normal time, 3:05 p.m.; however, bus drivers may be asked to take different routes from the school, depending on what the Arlington County Police Department suggests, said Frank Bellavia, a spokesperson for Arlington Public Schools.
The accident cut gas service to a portion of the Buckingham Village apartments, but no one was evacuated, a police officer said. Staff at the Buckingham Village Apartments could not verify the number of apartments.
The break occurred before 12:30 p.m., and one side of N. George Mason Drive was reopened to traffic, with police direction, just after 2:00 p.m.
This section of N. George Mason Drive has seen many delays in recent months as crews work on new townhouses on the southeast corner of N. George Mason at N. Henderson, on a large apartment building near N. Fourth, and on the street itself.
[Updates from Washington Gas are pending. –ST]
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