Fairfax City Council To Consider Roundabout On Old Lee Highway

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — Fairfax City Council will be considering a number of improvements to Old Lee Highway south of Fairfax High School at its work session Tuesday night. Possible improvements include either installing a roundabout or adding a turn lane at the Country Hill Drive intersection.

Council members first discussed Old Lee Highway upgrades during the council's June 12 retreat, according to staff documents. They directed city staff to provide additional information for the council's consideration, including alternatives at the intersection and possible traffic impacts.

In its report, city staff noted that the roundabout would fit within the existing paved area at the Country Hill Drive intersection. The city would only need to acquire a minimal amount of the 2,500 square feet of right of way necessary to install the roundabout. Only six residential properties along Old Lee Highway would be impacted.

In comparison, adding turn lanes would require 10,000 square feet of right of way and impact nine properties. This means that the city would need to acquire more right of way and build a retaining wall.

The construction cost for installing a roundabout would be less than $500,000 compared to the more than $500,000 price tag for the turn lanes, according to the staff report.

Staff recommended including the roundabout at Country Hill Drive as part of the Major Design Features package it will be considering at its July 13 meeting. Other items in the package include a roundabout at the intersection of Old Lee Highway and Ridge Avenue and a left turn lane from northbound Old Lee Highway to the Sherwood Center.

In addition, the package would include measures aimed at improving access to St. Leo the Great Catholic Church and Daniels Run Elementary, such as a left turn lane from southbound Old Lee Highway to the school's entrance. The city would also consolidate and realign the northern entrances to the church property.

With the council's endorsement on Tuesday night, the Old Lee Highway improvements would be added to the Major Design Features package that the council will vote to adopt at its July 13 meeting. Community engagement will continue, including a formal public hearing at a future date.