A damaged natural gas pipeline has shut down Route 29 approaching Centreville.
The road’s southbound lanes are currently closed at Stringfellow Road. Efforts to repair the leak are expected to drag into the afternoon rush hour today (Thursday), according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.
“This is expected to be an extended closure into rush hour,” VDOT said in a tweet at 2:06 p.m. “Signal timing is being monitored in the area for adjustments as needed. Seek alternate routes.”
Route 29 between Union Mill Road and Buckleys Gate Drive has been under construction since March 2023 as part of a widening project that will add two lanes and shared-use paths. The right southbound lane is scheduled to close from Stringfellow to Union Mill, starting at 10 a.m. tomorrow (Friday), for paving work.
However, the cause of the pipe damage hasn’t been confirmed, a Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department spokesperson says. A Washington Gas spokesperson similarly said they couldn’t confirm that the issue is related to the construction work, only that there was “third-party damage.”
“I don’t have an estimate on how long repairs will take,” the spokesperson said.
According to a notice issued by Fairfax Alerts at 1:43 p.m., the closure is “expected to last up to 4 hours,” and drivers are advised to “expect delays.” The fire department says its units “will be on scene for an extended period of time.”
#Centreville: SB Rt 29 is blocked at Stringfellow Rd due to a damaged gas line. This is expected to be an extended closure into rush hour. Signal timing is being monitored in the area for adjustments as needed. Seek alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/2wGROvFAG8
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) August 22, 2024
#FairfaxBravest are on scene of a gas leak at the intersection of Route 29 and Stringfellow Rd in the Centreville area. Units will be on scene for an extended period of time. Route 29 is closed at Stringfellow Rd. Please seek alternative routes. pic.twitter.com/jb6ondxjda
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) August 22, 2024
