Under Construction
Route 50/10th Street and Route 50/Courthouse Road |
| Improvements to two interchanges in Arlington County |
Area Map
Project Photos
Project at a Glance
April 11, 2011
Est Completion Date
Nov. 30, 2013
Cost
Approx. $39 million
Contractor
Flippo Construction Co., Inc.
Locality
Arlington
District
Northern Virginia
Contact
Charles Mel Harvey
Area Construction Engineer
703-259-3234
Jay Babra
Construction Manager
703-259-2944
About the Project
This project improves the interchanges on Route 50 (Arlington Boulevard) at 10th Street and at Courthouse Road. These interchanges, constructed in the early 1950s, are tightly spaced by today’s standards, with short acceleration lanes and insufficient capacity for current and future traffic volumes.
Project Details
The existing 10th Street and Courthouse Road bridges over westbound Arlington Boulevard will be replaced, and dedicated acceleration/deceleration lanes will be added on Arlington Boulevard separated from the main roadway. These new lanes will improve traffic flow by managing the merge of entering and exiting vehicles (see typical section to the right).
Additional improvements include:
- Signalized intersections providing access from eastbound Route 50 to 10th Street and Courthouse Road
- Ramps providing access from westbound Route 50 to 10th Street and Courthouse Road
- A signalized “T” intersection providing access from both directions of Fairfax Drive to the Courthouse Road ramp
Traffic Impacts
Drivers can expect up to two of three lanes in each direction on Rt. 50 to be closed weeknights from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through the interchanges.
Four closures with signed detours are expected over the course of the project (see the project presentation for maps and more details):
- Westbound ramp to N. Courthouse Road (Signed detour: 15th St. N) as well as westbound Route 50 to N. Fairfax Drive (Signed detour: 10th St. N to N. Barton) (Winter 2011 to Spring 2012)
- Fairfax Drive between N. Troy Street and N. Scott Street (Winter 2011 to Spring 2012)
Signed detour: N. Scott Street to 13th St. N. to N. Troy St. - Ramp from southbound 10th Street to eastbound Rt. 50 and Fairfax Drive (Spring 2012 to end Winter 2012/Spring 2013)
Signed detours (two): Washington Boulevard to N. Pershing to Rt. 50 and N. Barton to N. Pershing to Rt. 50 - Ramp from eastbound Rt. 50 to Courthouse Road (Fall 2012 to end Winter 2012/Spring 2013)
Signed detour: Washington Blvd. to Garfield Street to Clarendon Blvd.
Aesthetics
The project features a public art component with custom-designed concrete panels and LED back-illuminated, patterned metal grillwork designed by artist Vicki Scuri, working with the Arlington Cultural Affairs Public Art program.
Shared-Use Path and Transit
A bicycle trail will be added eastbound on Arlington Boulevard from Pershing Drive to Rolfe Street, and the existing westbound trail will be relocated and extended under the 10th Street bridge.
Two existing bus stops along westbound Arlington Boulevard will be consolidated into one stop. Utilities within the project limits will be placed underground as requested by Arlington County.
Background
Arlington Boulevard was constructed in the 1930s as a four-lane, divided highway. In 1954, existing interchanges at 10th Street and Courthouse Road were added.
Arlington Boulevard is now a six lanes through the county. Eastbound on Arlington Boulevard, l0th Street traffic enters from the left; Courthouse Road traffic exits and enters from the left. There is no access from eastbound Arlington Boulevard to 10th Street, but right-hand entrances and exits from westbound Arlington Boulevard to both Courthouse Road and 10th Street. See an overhead view of the existing interchange.
From 1996-97, VDOT and the county conducted a feasibility study to evaluate improvement alternatives. After reviews by the Arlington County Transportation Commission, County Board, VDOT, and a May 2001 public hearing, the plan was approved for design in January 2003.
Cost and Schedule
Project Cost
The entire estimated project cost is approximately $39 million.
$5.3 million - Preliminary engineering
$3.3 million - Utilities
$1.2 million - Right of way acquisition
$30 million - Construction
Project Schedule
April 2011 - Begin construction
June 2011 - Utility relocation complete
Oct. 2013 - Estimated project completion
Resources
Existing Interchange
Environmental Document (Categorical Exclusion)
Existing (2009) and Proposed (2032) Interchange Traffic Volume Data
Pardon our Dust Meeting Flyer
Pardon our Dust Meeting Presentation
Project Number: (FO) 0050-000-728, P101, R201, C501, B611, B612
ARRA FS-09(061) UPC 93526/13531
