Ramp to connect Fort Belvoir North to I-95

Fairfax County:

“Construction continues on the ramp that will connect Fort Belvoir North commuters to I-95 south express lanes and regular northbound lanes. ‘We’re currently on schedule, looking to complete by Dec. 14 of this year,’ said Tim Brown, construction operations engineer for Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division, part of the Federal Highway Administration.

The FHA is managing the project in coordination with the Virginia Department of Transportation.

The ramp is set to open in early 2015, coinciding with the opening of the new I-95 express lanes… As construction progresses, there will also be less lane closures during night construction, he added.

‘The number of lane closures should be diminishing in our work zone going forward,’ Brown said.

The ramp will allow drivers from Fort Belvoir North to drive directly on to the I-95 South express lanes, or get right onto the regular I-95 northbound lanes, said Michelle Holland, VDOT Megaprojects communications manager. The ramp’s major benefit is connecting drivers to the I-95 southbound express lanes, she added.”

~Writes Brittany Carlson of Belvoir Eagle

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Vienna Road Projects Take Step Forward

Town of Vienna:

“The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors last week approved $1.4 billion to fund transportation projects for FY 2015 to FY 2020. Among them were two road projects in Vienna, plus one transit project in the local area. In fall 2012, Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) staff held nine public meetings countywide regarding county residents’ transportation needs. It also conducted an online survey.

With the passage of House Bill 2313 by the Virginia General Assembly in spring 2013, Fairfax County was designated to receive an infusion of state transportation dollars. So FCDOT held additional public meetings in fall 2013 to garner community input to prioritize the unfunded transportation projects residents had requested in 2012.

The Supervisors’ approval of these and other transportation-project priorities, last Tuesday, Jan. 28, culminated a nearly two-year outreach called the Countywide Dialogue on Transportation. The Board’s action will move many of these much-needed transportation improvements from the planning stage to the construction phase over the next six years.”

~Writes Bonnie Hobbs of The Connection

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Fairfax to take expanded role in transportation projects

Fairfax County:

“An increase in available funding for construction projects has brought an accompanying spike in the workload for county and state transportation departments, Fairfax County staff said Tuesday. Last year’s transportation funding bill is expected to provide about $94 million for the county in fiscal 2014, according to previous estimates, and about $4 billion statewide over the next five years.

The county transportation department is planning to take an expanded role in executing local projects, according to Eric Teitelman of the Fairfax County Department of Transportation. Because of this, the department is working to streamline its processes and expand county staff capabilities to ensure that transportation improvements are completed as quickly and efficiently as possible.

State code caps the total number of VDOT employees, which has raised some concerns at the county level. In addition to possible delays in project schedules, county officials are concerned that more responsibilities could get pushed to the local level. Historically, road construction and maintenance has been a state responsibility in Virginia.”

~Writes Kali Schumitz of the Fairfax Times

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Board of Supervisors OKs Roundabout

Fairfax County

“It’s a go for the controversial roundabout planned for construction at the Braddock/Pleasant Valley roads intersection next to Cox Farms in Centreville. Tuesday morning, Jan. 14, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors endorsed Supervisor Michael R. Frey’s (R-Sully) motion of ‘no opposition’ to it, by an 8-2 vote…

Near the Fairfax/Loudoun border, that intersection regularly backs up at rush hour. So, at Loudoun’s urging, VDOT plans to build a 105-foot circle to move vehicles through there more quickly. The $4.1 million project is funded by Loudoun, state and federal money.

But many residents in nearby Centreville communities are adamantly opposed to it. Those living along Braddock and Pleasant Valley roads say they won’t be able to get out of their streets due to the steady stream of Loudoun drivers on both roads. They say a roundabout would dramatically favor Loudoun residents, to the detriment of Fairfax drivers.”

~Writes Bonnie Hobbs of The Connection

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Continuing Revitalization on Richmond Highway

Fairfax County

“Route 1 revitalization has been a major topic in Southeast Fairfax County for several years now, and the Southeast Fairfax Development Corporation will continue this effort into 2014. Edythe Kelleher, the executive director of SFDC, said that the group has a lot of plans that will impact residents and business owners along the Richmond Highway corridor.

Along with discussing SFDC’s continuing Roundtable Speaker Series and other educational events. Kelleher and Lindsey Doane, SFDC marketing and communications director, addressed the history of Route 1, areas to watch out for, and SFDC goals in general.”

~Writes Janelle Germanos of The Connection

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Delays with Silver Line

Northern Virginia
The Metro Silver Line
"The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is again pushing back its expected completion date for construction of the new Silver Line through Tysons Corner."
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