At Tuesday’s Board meeting, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously endorsed the design plans for widening the Fairfax County Parkway between Routes 29 and 123 and constructing an interchange at Popes Head Road. These designs are based on extensive community engagement and feedback.
This project will:
Construct the interchange at Popes Head Road and the Fairfax County Parkway and allow for the future construction of the long-planned extension of Shirley Gate Road from Braddock Road to the Parkway.
Widen the Parkway to three lanes in each direction from Route 29 to Route 123.
Make improvements at the Burke Centre Parkway/Fairfax County Parkway intersection as well as the 123 interchange.
Provide a continuous shared-use path along the Parkway by building the missing piece of trail between 123 and Burke Centre Parkway
Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield) said:
“I am thankful the Board has endorsed these long-overdue plans to fix this dangerous and congested intersection and allow for the future construction of the Shirley Gate Road extension. These plans are a significant improvement to one of Fairfax County’s main streets and will provide significant congestion relief and a safer route for thousands of residents.”
In non-pandemic times, average daily weekday traffic in the parkway corridor near Popes Head Road is projected to grow to 115,000 vehicles and currently has extensive backups at the traffic signal during rush hours and weekends. The County continues to see numerous crashes and fatalities at this intersection.