Under Construction

About the Project

This new $69.5 million interchange is partially funded through stimulus. The project widens Fairfax County Parkway from four to six lanes from south of I-66 to north of Rugby Road (more than three miles). Signals will be eliminated and entrance and exit ramps will be constructed to and from the Fairfax County Parkway, Fair Lakes Parkway and Monument Drive. Shared-use paths and sidewalks will enhance pedestrian access at the interchange and to the Rocky Run Stream Valley Park trail system.

Improved traffic flow on all three of these roads will save daily commuters time on their trips to work, school and shopping once the project is completed. In addition to the new interchange, drivers will enjoy the following benefits:

• No signals on Fairfax County Parkway from Popes Head Road to Route 50.
• Significantly improved traffic flow on Fair Lakes Parkway and Monument Drive by separating local and Parkway traffic.
• Improved traffic flow at I-66, Route 50 and Rugby Road with the additional lanes of Fairfax County Parkway.

The interchange has been planned since the 1980s when the Parkway was first built—much of the needed right-of-way was set aside at that time.

Long-Term Traffic Impacts

As part of the project, the existing North Lake Drive intersection with the Fairfax County Parkway is being removed to enhance safety on the Parkway. Alternative access for North Lake Drive is  provided via Tall Timbers Drive.

A phased construction plan is designed to minimize traffic delays along the Fairfax County Parkway. The Parkway will retain full access to Fair Lakes Parkway and Monument Drive during construction, but will require some traffic shifts. Traffic signals at Fair Lakes Parkway and Fair Lakes Circle will be adjusted as needed to minimize impacts.

Fairfax County Parkway will be temporarily shifted with decreased speed limits to the newly built northbound and southbound ramps, parallel to the Parkway, for about one year for safety purposes.

Construction Updates and Lane Closures

May 2012

With the Fairfax County Parkway traffic in its temporary alignment on the newly constructed ramps, work continues on the proposed Fairfax County Parkway at the interchange. Drivers can expect construction activity between the newly constructed ramps and north and south of the proposed interchange.

Fairfax County Parkway:
Construction continues on the bridges that will take Fairfax County Parkway over Monument Drive and Fair Lakes Parkway. Crews continue retaining wall and abutment construction. 

Beginning May 7, crews will begin erecting concrete beams for these bridges overnight for about two weeks. Expect delays at night if traveling through the project.

Material continues to be placed in embankments for the future elevated Fairfax County Parkway. Adjacent to the Route 50 interchange, soundwall post and panel installation continues.

Drivers may see crews installing subgrade stone and asphalt for the median lanes between Route 29 and Fair Lakes Parkway. Crews will begin installing temporary concrete median barrier from Monument Drive to Rugby Road to begin storm drainage work and median construction.

Fair Lakes Parkway:  
All movements to and from Fair Lakes Parkway onto Fairfax County Parkway are open to traffic. Crews continue installing soundwall panels.

Monument Drive: 
Expect lane closures during non-peak hours to facilitate curb, median and bridge work. Stay alert for new traffic patterns.

Interchange at Route 50:
Soundwall construction continues on the northbound side of Fairfax County Parkway along the ramp to Rt. 50 east. Expect periodic ramp closures between 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Signs will detour motorists to Rugby Road back to Rt. 50 east.

Trail Closure
The multipurpose trail that runs adjacent to northbound Fairfax County Parkway around to the ramp for Rt. 50 eastbound will be closed for about one more month in this area for soundwall construction. A new trail will be built in front of the wall in the near future.  

Lane Closures for May 2012
Expect weekday shoulder and single-lane closures in both directions along the Fairfax County Parkway, Fair Lakes Parkway and Monument Drive during non-peak hours. There will also be lane closures along Route 50 to facilitate bridge construction. The ramp from northbound Fairfax County Parkway to Rt. 50 east will be closed from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Please follow the posted detour.

The week of May 7, Fair Lakes Parkway will be closed weeknights to through traffic at Fairfax County Parkway from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Traffic will be detoured onto Fair Lakes Circle so that crews can erect beams.

The week of May 14, Monument Drive will be closed weeknights at the Fairfax County Parkway intersection from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Traffic will be detoured to West Ox Road.
All work is weather permitting.

Fair Lakes Community

A number of features have been incorporated in the project’s design to preserve and aesthetically enhance the identity of Fair Lakes:

• Retaining walls to reduce right-of-way impacts and preserve existing trees
• Retaining walls and sound barriers with an ashlar stone finish
• Ornamental lighting along pedestrian facilities
• Landscaping

The Fair Lakes League also has plans for additional landscaping, irrigation systems, new community signage and will supplement future maintenance of the project’s grass and landscaped areas. Their continued efforts will ensure a sense of place remains once the project is complete.

Resources

Interchange plans and Fairfax County Parkway plans
Presentation from Pardon Our Dust meeting (Oct. 27, 2010)
Detour maps and details

News Releases
VDOT Breaks Ground on Interchange at Fairfax County Parkway and Fair Lakes (Oct. 22, 2010)
 

Page last modified: May 3, 2012

 

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