There are major traffic backups on eastbound Interstate 66 coming into the District and as far out as the Beltway on Monday because of roadway damage on the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge.

The three lanes coming across the bridge are down to one lane as a result.

Reggie Sanders, a spokesman with the District’s Department of Transportation, said a utility company “made a cut” in the roadway as they were doing work in that area. But the road appears to have “sunken down.”

It was unclear what caused the road to sink, but Sanders said it is under investigation. In that area, there are three exits — one that goes to Rock Creek Parkway, another to Constitution Avenue and another toward E Street.



Damage is seen to the roadway Monday morning in the eastbound lanes of the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge. (Courtesy District Department of Transportation)

Orange cones were blocking the troubled lanes. Having only one lane of traffic available was causing “a pretty large backup coming into the city,” Sanders said.

He said D.C. officials were working to contact the utility company as quickly as possible and we will “work with them to correct” the road, he said.

He advised drivers to find an alternate route. There was no timetable as to when the roadway would be repaired.

Some drivers said they noticed traffic backups starting as early as 7 a.m. Monday morning. Side roads in Arlington are also busy, and traffic is very slow on the Beltway as well as a result, officials said.

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