Sunday morning’s implosion of a former Holiday Inn building in Rosslyn, Virginia, appeared to happen without incident, making way for a new multiple-use development.
The 8 a.m. strategic explosion occurred in the 1900 block of Fort Myer Drive, near Lee Highway.
The 18-story hotel had operated on the Virginia side of the Key Bridge since 1972, but closed earlier this year for a scheduled renovation.
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VDOT officials encouraged people to watch the event online rather than in person, citing safety concerns and poor visibility from the ground.
The demolition caused a handful of road closures in the surrounding area this weekend. In Virginia, portions of U.S. Route 29 was closed at 6:30 a.m., as was the following nearby streets:
- Eastbound Lee Highway, from North Quinn to North Lynn streets (estimated reopening is 6 p.m.).
- Fort Myer Drive, from westbound Lee Highway to Wilson Boulevard (estimated reopening is 6 p.m.).
- 19th Street North, from North Lynn Street to Fort Myer Drive (estimated reopening is 6 p.m.).
- North Nash Street, from Fort Myer Drive to Key Boulevard (estimated reopening is 6 p.m.).
- North Nash Street, from Key Boulevard to westbound Lee Highway (estimated reopening is 6 p.m.).
- North Moore Street, from 19th Street North to Lee Highway (estimated reopening is 6 p.m.).
- Westbound Lee Highway, from North Lynn to North Oak streets (estimated reopening is 10 a.m.).
- Fort Myer Drive, from GW Parkway to westbound Lee Highway (estimated reopening is 12 p.m.).
- Key Boulevard from North Nash to North Oak streets (estimated reopening is 12 p.m.).
- North Nash Street, from Key to Wilson boulevards (estimated reopening is 12 p.m.).
- Colonial Terrace — residents only (estimated reopening is 10 a.m.).
Key Bridge traffic was diverted onto northbound GW Parkway until about 9 a.m.
Interstate 66 in Rosslyn reopened to traffic after 9 a.m.
Exit 73 in Rosslyn was also closed.
In D.C., the Roosevelt Bridge reopened to outbound traffic after 9 a.m.
Northbound traffic on Virginia Route 110 reopened to traffic after 9:30 a.m.
Officials encouraged drivers leaving the District to incorporate the newly rehabbed Memorial Bridge into their alternate routes this weekend.
A map of the area is below.
The implosion was approved last year when the Arlington County Board gave the Dittmar Company the go-ahead on their redevelopment project. The decades-old building will be replaced by a multiple-use development with two towers, a 25-story residential tower and a 38-story hotel tower.
WTOP’s Melissa Howell, Dave Dildine, Jack Pointer and Luke Garrett contributed to this report.
