The Fix on 286: Notice of Road Closures This Weekend

Since taking office in January 2008, one of my goals has been to keep the Fairfax County Parkway (old 7100 now 286) from becoming as congested as I-66. Over the last few years we have accomplished much on the Parkway, but we have much more to do.  Early accomplishments include:

• Having the road reclassified in the state system from a secondary road to a primary road, bringing more federal and state resources for maintenance, repairs, and improvements. VDOT was also able to find the funding to pave the Parkway this summer.
• Leading the successful effort to obtain funding for the two-lane North Loop of the Parkway at Rolling Road so traffic travelling from the NGA and continuing northbound on the Parkway doesn't back up onto the main road.
• Working with Delegate Albo to have VDOT commission a safety study that will result in safety improvements being implemented, including installation of guardrail and median barriers on dangerous sections of the Parkway.
• Leading the effort with VDOT (and then with Congressman Wolf and the Federal Highway Administration) to open the HOV ramps on I-66 at Stringfellow and Monument to non HOV traffic during non HOV hours reducing traffic on the Parkway.
• Working with Dominion Power and VDOT to shave one to two years off the construction schedule for the Fair Lakes and Fairfax County Parkway grade separated intersection by accelerating utility relocation. 

That last point is what brings me to this notice:

From 10 p.m. Friday, August 10, through 4 a.m. Monday, August 13, the ramps from eastbound and westbound I-66 to southbound Fairfax County Parkway (Route 286) will be closed for paving as part of the ongoing interchange project at Fair Lakes and Fairfax County Parkway. The Southbound Parkway will also be reduced to one lane.

The following signed detours will direct drivers:

• From westbound I-66: Route 29 (Exit 52) north to access the Fairfax County Parkway. Click here to see a map of the route: http://goo.gl/maps/3fCvv.
• From eastbound I-66: Route 50 west (Exit 57B) to southbound West Ox Road (Route 608) to the Fairfax County Parkway. Click here to see a map of the detour route: http://goo.gl/maps/ZVFeI.
• Drivers may also take the northbound Fairfax County Parkway (Exit 55), turn right on Fair Lakes Parkway, and right on West Ox Road back to the Fairfax County Parkway. Click here to see a map of the route: http://goo.gl/maps/WVJmG.

Through the weekend, the Fairfax County Parkway will also be reduced to one lane southbound between Fair Lakes Circle and the Route 29 interchange (about 4300 feet). Drivers are asked to use alternate routes through this area to avoid delays.

Although an inconvenience, this work is part of the progress that we are making on the Parkway. The goal of being able to drive on 286 and go right over the Fair Lakes Parkway is starting to become a reality. As of right now the project is ahead of schedule and it is my hope that traffic will be able to travel uninterrupted on 286 over Fair Lakes Parkway by the end of this year. Here is the link to the project website:  http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/northernvirginia/fairfax_county_parkway-fair_lakes.asp

I will continue to work to improve the Fairfax County Parkway, which is truly one of Fairfax County’s “Main Streets.” This fall I will be hosting a Town Hall Meeting with County and State transportation staff to discuss the future of the Parkway and get public input so that we can work to get further in front of the problem and keep the Parkway from becoming as congested as I-66. When the date is set, I will let interested parties know via my e-newsletter, which you can sign-up for by emailing springfield@fairfaxcounty.gov. In the meantime please let me know if you have any thoughts or ideas.

Pat Herrity, Springfield District Supervisor
703-451-8873
springfield@fairfaxcounty.gov
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/springfield
www.facebook.com/pat.herrity