Fairfax County Parkway Widening To Be Discussed At VDOT Meeting

FAIRFAX STATION, VA — The planned widening of a five-mile portion of Fairfax County Parkway and other improvements will be discussed at a public meeting Wednesday, Nov. 6 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Virginia Department of Transportation will hold the meeting at Robinson Secondary School, 5035 Sideburn Road, Fairfax, and give a presentation at 7 p.m.

The project area is Fairfax County Parkway between Lee Highway (Route 29) and Ox Road (Route 123). Major improvements planned by VDOT include widening from four to six lanes, an interchange at Popes Head Road, and extension of Shirley Gate Road to that interchange.

Along with widening work will come improvements to the Route 123 interchange and the Fairfax County Parkway and Burke Centre Parkway intersection. A shared-use path will also be extended from Burke Centre Parkway to Ox Road.

Planning for the Popes Head Road interchange is in the works. According to the project page, VDOT's preferred design includes three roundabouts and two bridges over the parkway to keep traffic flowing freely.

Public comments can be provided at the meeting, emailed or mailed by Nov. 18 to Mr. Sitaram Kodali, P.E., Project Manager, Virginia Department of Transportation, 4975 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030.

Because project planning continues, there are no finalized dates on when construction will begin. The estimated project cost is $195 million, but that could change with the project design. The project costs are covered by federal, state and local funds.

The project aim is reducing congestion and boosting safety for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians alike. VDOT says this five-mile area of Fairfax County Parkway sees an average 85,000 vehicles per day, while Popes Head Road has around 4,000.

Visit the project page for more information.