Northern Virginia gets new “Corridor of Statewide Significance”
The Commonwealth Transportation Board’s recent approval to designate a new “Corridor of Statewide Significance” that covers Northern Virginia has drawn mixed reviews from transportation advocacy groups and local county governments.
“This move is either recognition that north-south mobility is needed in a region that now moves on an east-west axis, or it’s an attempt to accelerate construction of a controversial parkway linking (Prince William and Loudoun) counties and ultimately connecting to new Potomac River bridges to create an outer Beltway around Washington,” according to a story in the Washington Post.
The Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance has supported the designation in the hopes that more attention and funds will be given to the issue of alleviating congestion in the area and improving north-south access to Washington Dulles International Airport.
“Still environmental groups, Loudoun County officials and some residents don’t want the beltway and oppose the designation, but Prince William County leaders and area business leaders say a north-south road is needed,” according to a story in Leesburg Today.
The revival of the Outer Beltway proposal, which is on the state’s long-range transportation map, is sure to generate debate in the weeks and months ahead. To keep up to date on the issue, sign up for free email updates at http://nvta.org/.
Roadblock to I-66 Project Cleared
A recent Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance newsletter points a ray of sunshine in what usually is gloomy news in regional transportation: a recent district court decision has cleared the way for the first phase of an I-66 widening project.
The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) awarded a $10.2 million contract on May 19th to build an additional 1.3 mile westbound lane from Fairfax Drive to Sycamore Street on I-66 westbound inside the Beltway. The project will begin this summer and be completed next year, according to the NVTA.
An Arlington Green Party members’ lawsuit had delayed awarding of the contract until a U.S. District Court Judge ruled April 30th in favor of the Commonwealth.
The next 2 phases cover spot improvements between Haycock Road and Westmoreland Street, and between Lee Highway and Glebe Road. The projects will reduce congestion and travel times during peak periods, and increase safety by lengthening merge areas and reducing risk of stop-and-go accidents, according to a press release from Gov. Bob McDonnel’s office.
In other positive transportation news, the NVTA also reported that construction will begin this year on the Fair Lakes Parkway/Monument Drive portion of Fairfax County Parkway, a major bottleneck.
As part of the project, crews will build a grade-separated interchange and widen the parkway from four to six lanes between one-half mile south of I-66 and east of Rugby Road.
