Lorton Animal Shelter, Police Station Groundbreaking Planned

LORTON, VA — Fairfax County is holding a groundbreaking ceremony Saturday on a new South County police station and animal shelter in Lorton. The new shelter will be the second animal shelter in the county.

The new facility will include a 34,000-square-foot police station and a 23,000-square-foot animal shelter. The site will also include 20,000 square-feet of outdoor space for the animal shelter, a fuel island to support fleet vehicles and parking spaces.

Construction of the new police station and animal shelter, at an estimated cost of $30 million, is expected to be completed in spring 2023.

In November 2015, Fairfax County voters approved funding for the South County Police Station and Animal Shelter. The southern part of Fairfax County has a growing need for police and animal shelter services, the county said.

The Franconia and West Springfield District Police Stations currently serve the central and southern areas of Fairfax County. An additional police station will allow the department to organize smaller patrol areas and decrease response times throughout the county, according to the county.

Animals in the South County area must be transported long distances to the current shelter on West Ox Road in the Fair Lakes area.

The groundbreaking event, on Lorton Road between Hooes and Workhouse Roads, begins at 10 a.m on Saturday. Parking will not available at the event site. The public will need to park at the Laurel Hill Central Green Parking area at 8780 Lorton Road. A shuttle will be available to take the public to and from the event location.

Speakers at the event will include Jeff McKay, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and Dr. Karen Diviney, director of Fairfax County Department of Animal Sheltering.

The event will be televised on Fairfax County Government Channel 1016 (Cox), and Channel 16 (Verizon/Comcast) and will be streamed at fairfaxcounty.gov/cableconsumer/channel-16/live-video-stream. The groundbreaking will also be viewable on Facebook at facebook.com/SupervisorDanStorck.