McLean | FFXnow

Plan to replace American Legion Bridge revived with request for federal funding

Published August 21, 2023 at 3:00PM | Updated August 22, 2023 at 9:35AM

Traffic on the American Legion Bridge headed north into Maryland (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 9:35 a.m. on 8/22/2023) Maryland has renewed its commitment to replacing the American Legion Bridge and adding express lanes on the Capital Beltway, much to the relief of Northern Virginia transportation officials.

The Maryland Department of Transportation has applied for a federal grant to fund the initial phase of its project to widen the Beltway (I-495/I-270) and reconstruct the aging bridge, which provides the only road connection between Fairfax County and Montgomery County, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announced today (Monday).

Around Town

Where to eat in Fairfax County for Summer Restaurant Week 2023

By Matt Blitz

Published August 17, 2023 at 9:30AM

Agora restaurant in Tysons is participating in Summer Restaurant Week (courtesy Agora)

Summer Restaurant Week starts later this month across the region, with more than 30 Fairfax County businesses scheduled to participate.

The biannual event by Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) is intended to encourage diners to eat out during a sometimes-slow time of the year for restaurants.

News

Owners of McLean restaurant plead guilty to tax evasion, Covid relief theft

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 16, 2023 at 10:15AM

Gholam and Karen Kowkabi own Divan, a Persian restaurant in McLean (staff photo by David Taube)

A Vienna couple who own multiple restaurants in the D.C. area, including Divan in McLean, pleaded guilty in federal court earlier this week to evading over $1 million in taxes and stealing COVID-19 relief funds.

As part of the plea agreement, Gholam Kowkabi, 63, and Karen Kowkabi, 64, will give the IRS the $1.35 million that they failed to pay in taxes related to their D.C. restaurants Ristorante Piccolo, Catch 15 and Tuscana West, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for D.C. announced on Monday (Aug. 14).

News

Pedestrian killed in crash at Kirby Road crosswalk in McLean

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 11, 2023 at 9:05AM | Updated August 13, 2023 at 6:17PM

The crosswalk on Kirby Road at Old Dominion Drive in McLean (via Google Maps)

Updated at 6:15 p.m. on 8/13/2023 — The pedestrian in Friday morning’s crash was 86-year-old Brigitte Forster of McLean, Fairfax County police say.

The driver of the 2009 Toyota Sienna that hit her was turning left onto northbound Kirby Road from the Sylvestry at Vinson Hall parking lot when they “cut the turn short and entered the southbound lanes,” according to the police.

News

McLean fire department pursues loan to help pay for new ambulance

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 7, 2023 at 3:00PM

The McLean Volunteer Fire Department is planning to replace one of its ambulances (courtesy MVFD)

The McLean Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD) is a step closer to obtaining a brand-new ambulance.

The department got the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ unanimous approval on July 25 to borrow up to $250,000 from a private lender to buy fire and rescue equipment.

News

Utility work will require nighttime traffic stops on I-495 in McLean next week

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 4, 2023 at 2:15PM | Updated August 7, 2023 at 11:06AM

A sign for the Georgetown Pike exit off of I-495 North (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 11:05 a.m. on 8/7/2023) Traffic on the Capital Beltway will be periodically stopped overnight at Georgetown Pike in the latter half of next week.

Lasting up to 30 minutes at a time, the stoppages are required to enable crews to relocate utilities at the interchange as part of the 495 NEXT project, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Countywide

Fairfax County to expand mental health services, including more clinicians on police calls, this fall

By Vivian Hoang

Published August 3, 2023 at 11:45AM

Fairfax County will bolster its capabilities to respond to and resolve emergency calls related to mental health this fall.

The Fairfax County Police Department and the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board presented plans to roll out a fourth co-responder team and a telehealth pilot program at a Board of Supervisors safety and security committee meeting on Tuesday (Aug. 1).

News

NEW: GW Parkway fully reopens after storm-felled trees are cleared

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 2, 2023 at 11:00AM

The George Washington Memorial Parkway near I-495 with a temporary reversible lane (via Google Maps)

It took four days of work, but all trees have finally been cleared from the George Washington Memorial Parkway.

The parkway’s northern section between the Capital Beltway (I-495) in McLean and Spout Run Parkway in Arlington reopened at 9:45 a.m. today after hundreds of trees downed by a storm on Saturday (July 29) necessitated an extended closure.

Countywide

GW Parkway still partially closed as storm cleanup continues

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 31, 2023 at 9:45AM | Updated July 31, 2023 at 1:37PM

Most of the GW Parkway's northern section is closed as crews continue to remove trees knocked down by Saturday's storm (via Google Maps)

(Updated at 1:35 p.m.) The ear-splitting thunder that accompanied Saturday’s rainstorm has faded, but efforts to clean up the resulting damage continue.

All southbound lanes on the northern section of the George Washington Memorial Parkway in McLean and Arlington remained closed during rush hour this morning (Monday), as crews worked to remove fallen trees.

News

McLean’s Spring Hill Rec Center will get solar panels, energy upgrades

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 25, 2023 at 1:30PM

A man on a bench outside the Spring Hill Rec Center in McLean (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County’s efforts to become more energy efficient will get a power boost this week, as work begins on improvements at McLean’s Spring Hill Rec Center.

Set to break ground at 2 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday), the project will add the recreation center at 1239 Spring Hill Road to a growing list of county facilities supported by solar panels. Other planned changes include pool dehumidification unit replacements, LED lighting upgrades, improved building automation systems and a new geothermal HVAC system.