UPDATE: Sinkhole Closes Valley View Drive

Update, 3:58 p.m.: While we're going to hear from Supervisor McKay on this shortly, we have a statement from his office.

After seeing the sinkhole, McKay asked the Virginia Department of Transportation to elevate its repair to "emergency" level, which VDOT has done, according to the statement.

McKay writes that repairing the road will be complicated because a pipe that runs under it must be fixed as well. There's also a possibility that utility lines will also be relocated.

Police will continue monitoring traffic on the Tilbury detour until VDOT takes over the site. Fairfax County's Department of Public Works is monitoring Tilbury to make sure it remains "safely passable," according to McKay's statement.

Detour signs have been posted around the area by VDOT.

If you want to contact McKay's office, you can call them at 703-971-6262 or email at Leedist@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Original story:

A sinkhole has closed a section of Valley View Drive in Franconia, forcing commuters onto a disused, unpaved road.

The sinkhole has opened between the intersection of Valley View and Scotch Drive and the intersection of Valley View and Waterlily Court.

Valley View is the only road to several neighborhood streets, forcing drivers onto Tilbury Road, a dirt-and-gravel road that is usually not in use. Because Tilbury has only one lane, police at its entrances on Scotch Drive and Cobbs Road have been directing traffic. 

Patch has contacted Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay (D) and the Virginia Department of Transportation, and will update with their responses on how long the sinkhole repair will take.

With the exception of Tilbury Road, the sinkhole has cut off access to the following streets:

• Waterlily Court
• Elat Court
• Mclendon Court
• John Roccato Court
• Woodland Lake Drive
• Cobbs Road
• Cobbs Creek Court
• Jean Louise Way
• Dorothy Botton Court
• Howells Road