Flooding Damage To Keep McLean Roads Closed For Months

MCLEAN, VA — Two roads in McLean will remain closed for months due to extensive damages from the July 8 flooding. The Virginia Department of Transportation says damages on Kirby Road and Swinks Mill Road will require work by construction contractors.

On Kirby Road, VDOT says a segment of road just south of Claiborne Drive was washed away, and what's left of the asphalt has been undermined. The asphalt on the approaches to the deck of the VDOT bridge over Pimmit Run was also damaged, and crews made temporary repairs. Guardrails, abutments supporting the bridge deck, and retaining wall were damaged on the bridge.

In addition to road and bridge damages repairs, Pimmit Run will need to be realigned to its original location. A sanitary sewer line and underground utilities were also affected.

The damage to the public road and bridge has not cut off access to any homes. Separately flooding damaged a privately-owned bridge across from Claiborne Drive, and homeowners are assessing repair options.

The other long-term damage happened at the Swinks Mill Road bridge over Scott's Run, which is just south of Georgetown Pike. VDOT says several hundred feet of asphalt approaching both sides of the bridge was damaged, as well as asphalt on the bridge deck. Other damage to the bridge includes the guardrails, abutments and retaining wall. Crews also found the flooding removed sand and gravel from around the abutments, which support the bridge deck.

These damages have not cut off access to any homes. VDOT has installed concrete jersey barriers to prevent drivers from moving temporary barriers and driving across the bridge.

At this stage in the long-term repairs, crews have completed structural assessments and preliminary designs of the damaged roads and bridges. Survey work creating a detailed map of conditions should be completed in the coming weeks. VDOT has been coordinating with other agencies to schedule repairs to damaged utilities. Debris removal at the damage sites continues.

Once survey work is done, the engineering design of road and bridge repairs can be completed. VDOT will seek construction bids for "essential road and bridge repairs."

VDOT anticipates repairs on twelve McLean and Fairfax County roads will be finished by the end of Thursday. Crews worked on milling, paving and shoulder repairs on Barbee Street, Benjamin Street, Beulah Road, Churchill Road, Georgetown Pike, Ironwood Drive, Morningside Drive, Leigh Mill Road, Lorraine Avenue, Prosperity Avenue, Thrasher Place and Valley Wood Road.