Downed Power Lines Close Southbound Route 1

Downed power lines and electrical poles have closed traffic heading south on Route 1 from Slater’s Lane to First Street, according to Alexandria police.

Drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes. WUSA 9 quotes Alexandria City estimates that it could take 10 hours to remove the poles.

A Dominion Power spokesperson told WUSA 9 that three broken poles and cross arms were found after a call near noon.

NBC Washington notes 121 customers were without power; those outages could last “late into the night,” officials said.

Police have not released a cause for the poles falling, but the Washington Post notes that it wasn’t due to a traffic collision.