Leaning Potomac Mills Mall Sign Taken Down After Days-Long I-95 S Closure
Powerful winds tilted the sign on Friday
By Gina Cook ••
The Potomac Mills Mall sign that towered over Interstate 95 in Woodbridge, Virginia, for years has been torn down after strong winds caused it to lean Friday.
The southbound lanes of Interstate 95 will reopen Sunday night after a leaning Potomac Mills Mall sign led to a days-long closure.
Forceful 60 to 70 mph wind gusts caused the 140-foot sign in Woodbridge, Virginia, to tilt forward Friday.
The Virginia Department of Transportation shut down the southbound lanes of I-95 at Prince William Parkway for fear that the sign would come down. Tolls were suspended on I-95 South Express Lanes over the weekend.
VDOT warned drivers Sunday night to avoid traveling on I-95 in Prince William County on Monday if the sign wasn't taken down by then and advised them to take alternate routes, carpool, take public transportation or telework.
Due to the ongoing situation with the Potomac Mills Sign, a collapse safety zone is in place. In addition, we are enforcing a security perimeter around the incident scene adjacent to Potomac Mills. Please avoid the area and follow police direction. #Advisorypic.twitter.com/9ULV7JHgMe
While Sunday's blustery winds were nowhere near the strength of those that damaged trees, homes and cars throughout the region on Friday, the winds were still strong enough to prevent crews from fixing the sign, officials said.
NBC Washington
A roof that flew off of an apartment building in Suitland, Maryland, struck a Prince George's County Ambulance.
NBC Washington
The roof blew off of a building at an apartment complex in Suitland, Maryland, on Friday.
Jenny Roulier
A sign for the Potomac Mills Mall visible off of Interstate-95 started to lean as a result of strong winds throughout the area.
NBC Washington
Residents were inside of this Gaithersburg, Maryland, home when a tree struck the roof. There weren't any reported injuries.
NBC Washington
A tree struck a home in Gaithersburg, Maryland, on Friday morning, damaging a bedroom.
A tree lands atop a vehicle as a result of heavy winds across D.C. Friday.
Allie Sandza
The roots of a tree are ripped from the ground near a house at Forest Lane Northwest in Wesley Heights.
NBC Washington
Debris accumulated from Friday's heavy wind lands on top of a car in D.C.
Kirsten Albers
Several tree branches fell onto a car as a result of the heavy winds.
NBC Washington
Workers begin to repair damage from heavy winds and downed trees in D.C. Friday.
DC Fire and EMS
A large tree fell and caused substantial damage to a two-story house in D.C., D.C. Fire and EMS said.
DC Fire and EMS
Residents were not inside when a tree caused damage to a house in D.C., officials said.
DC Fire and EMS
The tree caused damage around a house in D.C., officials said.
Maria Yliquin
A cherry blossom tree fell over not far from the Washington Monument because of heavy wind.
Allie Sandza
A tree fell over close to a vehicle in Wesley Heights.
NBC Washington
A tree fell on a car off New Mexico Avenue and Cathedral Avenue Northwest on Thursday night.
A fallen tree obstructs the sidewalk on Connecticut Avenue in Northwest D.C.
A Kensington, Maryland home was partially crushed by a tree as a 100-year-old woman slept inside.
An 100-year-old woman was rescued from her home after a tree crashed into her Kensington, Maryland home.
An 100-year-old woman was rescued from her home after a tree crashed into her Kensington, Maryland home. She was asleep in this bed when the tree fell.
Courtesy of Fairfax Police
Another tree that fell onto a home.
Chris Duncan
A power line went down and several chairs were scattered in the street in Alexandria, Virginia. (Courtesy Chris Duncan)
Arlington Fire
Arlington Fire caught this messy situation on North Harrison Street near Lee Highway. (Courtesy Arlington Fire)
A tree near 43rd and Yuma streets Northwest in Washington, D.C. fell across the sidewalk, barely missing a vehicle parked on the street.
A tree near 43rd and Yuma streets Northwest in Washington, D.C. fell across the sidewalk, barely missing a vehicle parked on the street.
A tree near 43rd and Yuma streets Northwest in Washington, D.C. fell across the sidewalk, barely missing a vehicle parked on the street.
An awning fell off a building on Connecticut Avenue Northwest.
News4/Aimee Cho
Fairfax County Police
Tom Lynch/NBC Washington
A driver was injured in Northwest D.C. when a tree fell on their car.
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Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
Prince William County officials said earlier Sunday night that the Potomac Mills Mall was responsible for removing the sign.
"Potomac Mills Mall property owners noted that they will not attempt to remove the sign until winds die down enough to allow safe removal. They are hopeful that they will be able to remove the sign before the Monday commute, but it is unclear whether that will be able to occur. Should Potomac Mills fail to remove the sign by Monday morning, commuters should expect significant traffic delays," read a statement on the Prince William County government website.
