Fuel Spill Prompts Call For Road Restrictions In Great Falls

John Hacey of Citizens for Great Falls sent this letter to Dranesville Supervisor Jimmie Bierman concerning the April 3 tanker truck accident.

Dear Supervisor Bierman:

The overnight truck accident on April 3, 2025 in which more than 2,000 gallons were discharged from a ruptured tanker truck demonstrates the significant safety risks posed by tractor trailers hauling hazardous materials on the roadways in the community of Great Falls. I am writing on behalf of Citizens For Great Falls a consortium of concerned residents and as the former chairman of the GFCA’s Transportation Committee and the organization’s president. My experiences in those positions as an advocate for transportation safety and in listening to ongoing concerns of the residents convince me that we cannot afford to ignore the warning signs that large trucks and increased tractor trailer traffic in this community are causing a degradation of safety.

As you are well aware, Great Falls, like much of the northern portion of the county, is crisscrossed by narrow winding roads, with sudden steep grades and sharp horizontal curves. The characteristics of these roads, built before modern traffic engineering standards were implemented, were never intended to carry the current daily volume of traffic and the commercial truck traffic that transit these roads today. As you are also aware, some or all of the characteristics of roadway geometry and the narrow traffic lane width that contributed to the spill of the 2,600 gallons of gasoline into the Difficult Run Tributary are found on all of the north/south roads connecting S.R. 7 to Georgetown Pike in Great Falls.

These roads are all narrow, single-lane, roads without shoulders with numerous steep grades, sharp turns and in three instances horizontal curves that approach 90°. These factors are critical in evaluating the safety of truck operation on these roads, in our considered opinion, and I believe that action is warranted to reduce the risks to safety by the truck traffic using these roads. Action must be undertaken to restrict tractor trailers and through trucks on these roadways before another incident occurs with more tragic consequences.

Safety Considerations

The proliferation of technology that provides turn-by-turn navigation are popular because they show drivers the shortest routes and also the fastest routes. Regrettably, these navigation tools do not provide more data to users such as the through truck prohibition on Georgetown Pike from Chain Bridge Road to Georgetown Pike, nor do they warn tractor trailer operators of the extremely tight turns and narrow lanes on Leigh Mill, Walker, or Springvale Roads.

In the case of Leigh Mill Road on April 3, the Torrissi Transport driver may not have been aware of the constricted turning radius on the approach to the single-lane bridge, if he used such a device. Nevertheless, any operator of a vehicle hauling hazardous materials must be cognizant of the characteristics of planned travel routes to assure safe operation.

Furthermore, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Regulations provide that operating convenience is not a basis for deviating from established truck routes. In doing so, the safety risks are increased and such driver behavior is contrary to FMCSA safety regulations for Haz Mat carriers. As you know, S.R. 7 is an established truck route that safely accommodates large trucks and semi-trailers.

It is well-established that tractor trailer combinations that can reach an overall length of 53’ cannot safely maneuver around sharp curves without “off-tracking”, which occurs when the rear wheels of a large truck do not follow the same path as the front wheels while moving through a curve or turn. This encroachment onto oncoming traffic lanes creates a substantial risk to other motorists who are traveling in their designated lanes.

This phenomenon has been discussed at great length with representatives of the VDOT Northern District during preliminary discussions regarding the Walker Road Bridge replacement project and concerning the serpentine-like roadway conditions on Georgetown Pike at Difficult Run. Nevertheless, tractor trailers continue to operate unsafely on those roads putting other motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians at risk.

Based on the recent incident on Leigh Mill, there is now incontrovertible evidence that vehicles like the Torrissi Transport tractor trailer cannot safely operate because of overall length and the prevailing conditions on the subject roadway. Similarly, with the same conditions on Walker, and Springvale Roads, and the absence of more comprehensive truck prohibitions, motorists traveling on those routes are also put at risk.

While I appreciate the fact that Virginia law permits tractor trailer combinations in some cases to legally operate on roads where the tractor truck semitrailer combination exceeds 65 feet in length, including tractor trailers that measure 40 feet in length, such vehicles should not be permitted on the roads that are described above—it is impractical and unsafe.

Notwithstanding the necessity of delivering goods to the residents and businesses in the community, through trucks should be prohibited. With respect to regular deliveries, most, if not all, businesses in the limited business center of Great Falls have vendors who are well-acquainted with the safe designated routes. Nevertheless, on April 3, that was not the case.

Because the community of Great Falls is conveniently close to I-495, a major highway that carries thousands of trucks each day; and, because that highway has both on and off ramps that connect to Georgetown Pike, numerous tractor trailers and other through trucks routinely ignore the posted restrictions in favor of operating convenience.

Consequently, improved signage is needed that announces the truck prohibition on Georgetown Pike. Also, new restrictions should be imposed on vehicle length with warning signs to be posted on the I-495 end of Georgetown Pike, and at the Old Dominion Drive intersection on Georgetown Pike for those tractor trailers and busses considered exempt due to local stops in Great Falls. Based on discussions, VDOT Northern Virginia traffic engineers are well aware of the lack of maneuverability for over-length vehicles along the Georgetown Pike section near Difficult Run.

Specific Threats to the Community

As we have seen, the Torrissi Transport Tanker created a substantial risk to environment when it released flammable hazardous materials. Further, the operation of this type of vehicle poses risks especially when operating on residential streets due to the potential for spills, fires, and explosions involving flammable and hazardous materials. These events can lead to environmental damage, injuries, and property damage.

Specific Risks

• Spills: Tanker trucks can experience leaks or spills, releasing fuel or chemicals onto the road, potentially causing slips and hazardous conditions.
• Fires and Explosions: A crash or incident can ignite flammable liquids, leading to fires or explosions.
• Environmental Damage: Spills can contaminate soil and groundwater, posing long-term risks to ecosystems and wildlife.
• Hazardous Materials: Tanker trucks may transport corrosive or toxic chemicals, which can cause burns, breathing problems, and other health issues.
• Maneuverability: As mentioned above, large and heavy tanker trucks can be difficult to control and maintain in a single traffic lane, increasing the risk of accidents, especially in residential areas with narrow streets.
• Rollover Risk: The center of gravity of a tanker truck can be higher than other vehicles, making them susceptible to rolling over, especially when turning or braking.
• Corrosion and Leaks: Over time, corrosion in metal tanks can create leaks, potentially leading to spills on roadways throughout the residential community and environmental contamination.

Conclusion and Action Requested

Given the foreseeability of the risk and the experience factor, thus far, it suggests that safety improvements and restriction of truck traffic on the residential roads of Great Falls are indicated. The authority to implement truck restrictions on residential roadways resides in Fairfax County’s Residential Traffic Administration Program. The criteria for implementation is straightforward and would prohibit the use of a road by trucks that are not making stops in a neighborhood; and, would apply to any truck, truck and trailer, or semi-trailer combination, except a pickup or panel truck.

The aforementioned roads (Leigh Mill Road, Walker Road, Springvale Road) appear to meet the criteria in that the subject roads are:

• Either a local or collector road in a residential neighborhood; and
• Reasonable alternate routes exist; and
• A safety concern or a history of crashes indicates a need for the prohibition; and
• The restriction must be enforceable.

As in the case of hazardous materials transporters, S.R. 7 is a designated truck route. It also provides the safest route alternate for large trucks and tractor trailers. Accordingly, as District Supervisor and as the Chair of the Board of Supervisors’ Transportation Committee, we respectfully request your initiation of appropriate action to request Fairfax County Department of Transportation to implement this much needed safety measure.

With kind regards,

John Hacey

Citizens for Great Falls