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Parkway extension agreement signed
The long-awaited agreement to construct the final two-mile stretch of the Fairfax County Parkway was signed by the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration and the Army.
After years of bickering among the three entities over jurisdiction and funding for the project, the $174 million project will be designed and constructed by the FHA.
Upon completion, maintenance of the roadway and right of way will belong to VDOT.
The unfinished section of the parkway runs through the Engineer Proving Ground, the future home of 8,500 workers and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
Jurisdictional arguments began years ago when EPG, a former munitions range, was considered as a strong candidate for the relocation of federal agencies and workers. In order to begin construction, the Army had to initiate a clean-up of the site, which included unexploded munitions and an underground oil spill.
“The missing link will not only provide access to the Engineer Proving Ground, which is essential for the success of these military moves, but it also will fulfill the community's original vision for a cross-county parkway that began construction 20 years ago,” said Board of Supervisors chairman Gerry Connolly.
VDOT will provide $114.7 million for the four-phase project. Costing $86 million and set for completion by December 2010, the first phase is the four-lane extension allowing drivers access to I-95.
“Future phases will be constructed as funding is identified,” said the VDOT release, which added that “VDOT, FHWA and the Army will each pursue additional funding to construct the remaining phases.”
The remaining phases include the interchange at Rolling Road and the entrance into EPG, the relocation of Hooes Road and Rolling Road, a loop ramp at Boudinot Drive and interchange improvements where the Franconia-Springfield Parkway meets the Fairfax County Parkway.
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