Route 29 improvements celebrated in Fairfax County

The project reconstructed and widened 1.5 miles of roadway from four to six lanes, aimed at relieving a major bottleneck during peak hours that existed prior to construction, with lengthy backups occurring in particular at the signal for Stringfellow/Clifton roads (Route 645). Route 29 averages 29,000 vehicles a day within the project limits.

The Route 29 widening project also:

• Corrected vertical alignment to improve sight distance.
• Added shared-use paths on both sides of Route 29.
• Provides connectivity to pedestrian and bicycle trails at the Fairfax County Parkway/West Ox Road interchange.
• Installed several noise barrier systems along Route 29 to reduce noise impacts for neighborhoods adjacent to the highway.

“This project is about more than adding lanes,” said VDOT Northern Virginia District Engineer Bill Cuttler. “It is about improving mobility, enhancing safety, and strengthening connectivity for the entire Route 29 community.”

“For years, this stretch of Route 29 was the last remaining four-lane bottleneck between Fairfax City and Centreville, so completing this project is an important milestone for our community,” said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay. “This investment is about more than adding capacity. It means safer connections, better mobility and a transportation network that works better for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists alike. I’m grateful to our state, regional and local partners who worked together to get it done.”

The $94.4 million project is financed with federal, state (including Smart Scale) and county funding, as well as part of the concession fee provided under the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project Comprehensive Agreement. Shirley/Dewberry is the design-build contractor for the project scheduled for completion later this fall.