Two Months Until Lorton Road Reopens

It will take an estimated two months for the Virginia Department of Transportation to reopen Lorton Road and 100 other roadways damaged by Tropical Storm Lee on Sept. 8.

"It's insane that it's going to take VDOT two months to repair Lorton Road," said Mount Vernon District Supervisor Gerry Hyland. "There are 6,000 cars a day that use Lorton Road. It's a major road, and they need to have a crew down there immediately to do the repair. VDOT can use their emergency procurement process to get a contractor down there to start doing what needs to be done. They know what has to happen. It's just a question of getting someone to do it."

Last week, the Board of Supervisors agreed unanimously to prepare a letter to Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell to speed up the repair process. "You have contractors working right now that ought to be diverted to fixing Lorton Road," said Hyland. "Why not?" 

VDOT started reaching out to emergency contracts for the most damaged bridges and roadways, all located in Fairfax County. The total estimated damage to roads and bridges in Northern Virginia is likely more than $10 million, according to the .

“Work is either already under way or will begin shortly on roads requiring reconstruction,” VDOT Northern Virginia District Administrator Garrett Moore said in a statement. “We expect most of these roads should reopen within eight weeks."

Repair projects include:

• Hunter Mill Road bridge between Rt. 267 and Baron Cameron Avenue. The road remains closed between Crowell Road and Chamberlain Drive, which means drivers need to find an alternate route from the toll road to Baron Cameron Ave. Repairs will be made to bridge approach and shoulder damage, as well as washed-out pavement.
• The sinkhole on Sunrise Valley Drive. The eastbound lanes remain closed between Glade Drive and Mercator Drive.Hillside Road in West Springfield between between Moverly Court and Cameo Square. VDOT says this is one of the local roads most damaged by flooding.Essex Avenue in West Springfield. VDOT has to contend with road washout and pipe damage. Beach Mill Road over Nichols Branch in Great Falls.Contract awards for construction of a temporary culvert will be given out this week. Detour: 8 miles long.
• Lorton Road over Giles Run in Lorton. Work has already started in rebuilding sections of the bridge. The repairs will include a nearby washout on Silverbrook Road. Detour: 8 miles.
• Towlston Road over Rocky Run in McLean. Contract awards for construction of a temporary culvert will be given out this week. Detour: 2.5 miles.