ALEXANDRIA, VA – A major water main break forced the closure of all westbound lanes along the 4600 block of Duke Street late Monday, snarling evening traffic and sending city crews rushing to contain the damage. The disruption, announced by the Alexandria Police Department, is expected to last through the night as workers from the city’s Transportation and Environmental Services Department remain on scene assessing and repairing the line.
Traffic along the busy corridor is being diverted around Foxchase, a heavily traveled stretch connecting residential neighborhoods to retail centers and Interstate 395. Motorists were urged to avoid the area and seek alternate routes until further notice, as flooding and surface damage made the roadway impassable.
City officials said repair crews began excavation work shortly after the break was reported, working under floodlights to isolate the leak and prevent further erosion beneath the roadway. The cause of the rupture has not yet been determined.
By late evening, traffic control officers remained stationed at key intersections to assist with detours, while signage redirected vehicles toward Eisenhower Avenue and Van Dorn Street. Commuters planning to use Duke Street Tuesday morning were advised to monitor city alerts for updates before heading out.
The city said additional information would be provided once the repair timeline becomes clearer.
Key points:
- A water main break has closed all westbound lanes of Duke Street near the 4600 block.
- Repairs are ongoing overnight, with traffic redirected around Foxchase.
- Motorists are advised to avoid the area and monitor city updates for reopening information.
