'Most treacherous' road sees increase in crashes
Thursday - 12/8/2011, 6:59am ET
TYSONS CORNER, Va. - With 14 miles of construction along the Capital Beltway, the number of crashes through Tysons Corner has increased dramatically.
Since the construction projects to expand rail to Dulles and add High Occupancy Toll Lanes to the Beltway started three years ago, the number of crashes involving injuries is up 60 percent through September this year, according the the Virginia State Police.
"It's probably the most treacherous road in the Washington, in terms of trying to negotiate the just turns and the changes because it's an active construction zone," says AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesman John Townsend about the Beltway.
Overall crashes have increased more than 500 a year since 2008, according to the police.
The increase in crashes comes despite a concerted effort to warn drivers of the dangers.
Townsend says you need to remain alert through construction zones, like Tysons.
The construction is expected to last at least another two years.
WTOP's Hank Silverberg contributed to this report. Follow Hank and WTOP on Twitter.
(Copyright 2011 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)
