In Design: Fairfax County Parkway Widening and Popes Head Road Interchange

Note: A design public hearing was held in December 2019.
Meeting Materials and Displays:
- Aerial Overview: Route 123 Interchange, Route 123 to Clara Barton Drive, Burke Centre Parkway to Fairfax Station Road, Popes Head Creek to Nomes Court, Ladues End Lane to Colchester Meadow Lane, Popes Head Road and Future Shirley Gate Road Extension, Piney Branch, Braddock Road Interchange, Between Braddock Road and Route 29, Route 29 Interchange and Route 29 to I-66
- Popes Head Road Interchange Rendering
- Burke Centre Parkway Intersection Time of Day Left-Turn Restriction
- Potential Environmental Resource Impacts
The Environmental Assessment is available.
Popes Head Road Interchange
Plans to replace the traffic signal at Fairfax County Parkway (Route 286) and Popes Head Road (Route 654) with an interchange, including access to the future Shirley Gate Road extension and Patriot Park, are being further developed and refined.
The preferred design option for the Popes Head Road interchange is Triple Roundabouts that will allow traffic to flow freely via two new bridges over Fairfax County Parkway.
Fairfax County Parkway Widening
Plans to widen about five miles of Fairfax County Parkway from four lanes to six between Route 29 (Lee Highway) and Route 123 (Ox Road) are being further developed and refined.
The widening will also include:
- Improving the Route 123 interchange and the Fairfax County Parkway/Burke Centre Parkway intersection.
- Providing a continuous shared-use path within the project limits by constructing the missing segment from Burke Centre Parkway to Route 123.
Within the project limits, Fairfax County Parkway averages up to 85,000 vehicles a day and Popes Head Road averages up to 4,000.
Estimated Costs
Preliminary Engineering: $14 million
Right of Way Acquisition and Utility Relocation: $19.5 million
Construction of Popes Head Road Interchange: $73.3 million
Construction of Fairfax County Parkway Widening: $183 million
Total: $290 million
These project costs are estimates and subject to change as the project design is further developed. The Popes Head Road interchange is fully funded and the Fairfax County Parkway widening is partially funded, with additional funding sources being evaluated as they become available. This project is financed with federal, state and local funds, including Smart Scale and Northern Virginia Transportation Authority funding.
Benefits
These projects aim to reduce congestion and improve safety and accessbility for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.
Major Milestones
First Public Information Meeting - December 2017
Second Public Information Meeting (Series) - September/October 2018
Third Public Information Meeting - January 2019
Fourth Public Information Meeting - November 2019
Design Public Hearing - December 2019
Begin Popes Head Road Interchange Right of Way Acquisition - Mid 2021
Begin Fairfax County Parkway Widening Right of Way Acquisition (Route 29 to Nomes Court) - Early 2023
Begin Fairfax County Parkway Widening Right of Way Acquisition (Nomes Court to Route 123) - To be determined as additional funding becomes available
Begin Popes Head Road Interchange Construction - Mid 2023
Begin Fairfax County Parkway Widening Construction (Route 29 to Nomes Court) - 2025
Begin Fairfax County Parkway Widening Construction (Nomes Court to Route 123) - To be determined as additional funding becomes available
Resources
Sitaram Kodali, P.E.
Location & Design
(Popes Head Interchange)
Christopher Barksdale, P.E.
Location & Design
(Fairfax County Parkway Widening)
Andrew Beacher, P.E.
Preliminary Engineering
Other relevant links:
Environmental Assessment - November 2019
Natural Resources Report - November 2019
Air Quality Report - October 2019
Burke Centre Parkway Intersection "Option C" - April 2019
Supplemental Archaeological Survey - Feb. 2019
Preliminary Noise Analysis - October 2018
Report, Figures, Appendices A-B and Appendices C-K
Cultural Resources Survey - August 2018
Hazardous Materials Report - April 2018
Fairfax County Department of Transportation Concept Plans - June 2013
Fairfax County Parkway & Franconia-Springfield Parkway Corridor Study
Phase: In Design
UPC: 107937, 111725
State ID: 0286-029-259, P101, B619, B621, B622, B624, B627, B632, B620, B623, B625, B628, B629, B630, B631, D604, D605; 0286-029-365, B619, B620
Federal ID: STP-5A01 (775)
Lat/Long: 38.820174, -77.349058
Locality:
Fairfax