GW Parkway Sinkhole Shuts Down Southbound Lanes, Irks Commuters

The GW Parkway sinkhole that shutdown the southbound lanes of the busy roadway on Tuesday is now being investigated by federal highway officials.

The sinkhole was reported Monday night and crews spent Tuesday fixing it, The Washington Post reported. They are now looking into what may have caused the sinkhole on the George Washington Memorial Parkway near Route 123 in Virginia.

Doug Hecox, a spokesman for the Federal Highway Administration, told The Post that sinkholes can be caused by a variety of factors such as water under the roadway or changing geological conditions.

The parkway was partially reopened around 8:45 p.m. Tuesday, with all lanes cleared by about 6 a.m. Wednesday, WJLA-TV reported.

Photos of the sinkhole, which reportedly measured 25 feet wide by 3 feet deep below the pavement's surface, made the rounds on Twitter.

Work on the sinkhole continues. The hope is to have GW Parkway southbound reopened by midnight at the very latest pic.twitter.com/kWsRzmn7oe

— Tom Roussey (@tomrousseyABC7) December 2, 2014

Sinkhole this morning on GW Parkway #dctraffic #vatraffic Photo credit: Bryan Zelley pic.twitter.com/cErcqIUp6g

— Commute Safe DC (@CommuteSafeDC) December 2, 2014

#TRAFFIC: Sinkhole repairs close SB GW Parkway, will reopen Wed AM http://t.co/3J96WoIFld pic.twitter.com/SBhWezk61m

— wusa9 (@wusa9) December 2, 2014

Closure expanding. S/B GW Parkway will be closed until further notice between Beltway and 123 for sink hole. pic.twitter.com/bIoRdyC0Yy

— Megan McGrath (@MeganMcGrath4) December 2, 2014

Pothole... Sinkhole... RT @JoanJWTOP: The pothole that took down the GW Parkway it's not 30 ft wide It's 30 in. deep pic.twitter.com/bz93HB4Z24

— Steve Chenevey FOX5 (@stevechenevey) December 2, 2014

Commuters also took to social media to complain about the delays caused by the sinkhole.

Wintery cold and wet weather this morning - & - a sink hole on GW Parkway! My commute is going to stink this morning. #bak2bed

— Phillip Morse Sr. (@Pdmsr1963) December 2, 2014

Give me the strength & patience to survive as I get on NB GW Pkwy.

— Zander (@ZanderDC) December 2, 2014

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