Politics & Government

Update: Lorton Road Project Could Be Finished in 2016

The South County Federation was briefed on Tuesday by representatives from the Fairfax County Department of Transportation.

The $66 million Lorton Road widening project will soon be underway, but construction will not be completed until at least 2016.

On Tuesday, representatives from the Fairfax County Department of Transportation briefed the South County Federation on the Lorton Road Long Range Study, and outlined development options for a fast-growing area of Northern Virginia. 

In the Long Range Study, Transportation staff determined potential roadway improvements by comparing 2010 Lorton Road traffic counts to estimates of potential traffic in 2030. The disparity in the traffic figures reflects the growth that southern Fairfax County could experience over the next 18 years.

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In the case of the intersection of Lorton Road and Silverbrook Road, for instance, morning peak traffic counts were at 2,593 cars in 2010, and are estimated to increase to 6,620 cars by 2030.

"As for the other roadway improvements, we'll wait for the widening project to finish, wait six-to-12 months to recollect traffic data and then we'll look at further improvements," said Selby J. Thannikary, FCDOT traffic operations chief, at the meeting. "But as you know, funding is an issue with any further improvements." 

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Those other improvements include:

  • A Lorton Road and Furnace Road connector (with a traffic signal)
  • A traffic signal at Lorton Road and Windermere Hill Road, or a traffic signal at Lorton Road and Giles Run Road.
  • As a short-term congestion solution, adding a third (southbound to eastbound) left turn lane at Lorton and Silverbrook Roads. The long-term solution would be the redesign of a Lorton Road interchange with Interstate 95. 

Construction Zone

Construction will begin after underground and aerial utilities are relocated, and is anticipated to be advertised for bid in late 2013. However, there is still prep work that needs to be done, including the acquisition of land rights of 35 properties necessary for construction.

"The land acquisition phase is anticipated to be completed this fall," said Jeanmarie Roberson, a senior engineer with the Fairfax County DOT, in an email to Patch. 

The project includes Lorton Road from Route 123 to Silverbrook Road, and Furnace Road from Route 123 to Lorton Road. It will include the installation of 90 degree intersections, on-road bike lanes, dedicated turn lanes, 10-foot-wide shared use paths and new bridges over Giles Run and the Greenway Trail.

The Lorton Road project is funded by $20 million from the Fairfax County November 2007 Transportation Bond Referendum, $1.3 million from developer contributions and $45 million from the Commercial Real Estate Tax for Transportation program. 

Other Lorton Road Widening Improvements

  • Two travel lanes in each direction of Lorton Road and Furnace Road from Ox Road (Route 123) to Silverbrook Road.
  • The addition of a westbound-to-northbound shared through-right turn lane at Furnace Road and Hooes Road.
  • The construction of an aligned, signalized Lorton Road connector to I-95, with dual northbound-to-eastbound right-turn lanes and dual westbound to southbound left-turn lanes. 
  • A raised median divider on Lorton Road at Cardinal Forest Lane.

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