Friday, June 8, 2012
Groundbreaking ceremony unveils new plans for McLean
A group of distinguished officials and guests gathered Wednesday morning at the intersection of Old Dominion Drive and Chain Bridge Road to celebrate the groundbreaking of the McLean Utility Undergrounding Project. The project aims to beatify the center hub of McLean by replacing outdated overhead power lines with underground wiring. The traffic signals will also be replaced by the Virginia Department of Transportation with less invasive mast arm poles. Safety improvements will be made for pedestrians including an extension to the Listrani’s peninsula. “It would be nice if revitalization could simply happen by the wave of a magic wand and the snap of a finger, but things don’t happen that way. Revitalization takes time, money and hard work…
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Public comments accepted on proposal through June 12.
A proposal under consideration by the Virginia Department of Transportation would assess a monthly fee for E-ZPass users of about $1 per transponder. E-ZPass is the system that allows drivers to pass through toll plazas more quickly by carrying transponders that automatically charge tolls to a registered account. VDOT has proposed the fee to help defray administrative and operations costs within the state for the service. Most of the E-ZPass toll facilities are not operated by VDOT. The program has grown significantly over the years and will be part of new toll services opening during the next few years. The proposed monthly fee would cover costs for: The fee — which would be reevaluated on a regular basis — would also help control costs …
Friday, May 25, 2012
App for checking traffic congestion on Virginia's roads
- GOVERNMENT
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Friday, May 25, 2012
If you're braving Virginia roads this Memorial Day weekend, here are two new aids from VDOT: 1. Motorists can download a free mobile app that will give them real-time traffic information about traffic on Virginia roads. Visit the new 511 website with live streaming video of traffic conditions or call the improved 511 phone system. The new system includes: 2. Speaking of the Beach, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has unveiled new electronic message signs in the Hampton Roads region to help motorists choose the quickest drive time to the Virginia Beach Oceanfront or the North Carolina Outer Banks. The ‘Reach the Beach’ signs will provide drivers with updated travel times at key decision points approaching and leaving the …
Friday, March 30, 2012
It's not getting any better out there
There's no relief in sight for beleaguered Northern Virginia drivers naviating a myriad of major construction projects that impede their daily commute to and from work. That was the main news from VDOT's update on its major projects Thursday. Steve Titunik, VDOT's communications director, said all the projects which range from building express toll lanes down the middle of the Capital Beltway, to express lanes on I-95 were on schedule. “Spring seems to have started early, which is great news for us,” he said. Here's the VDOT status report from VDOT's regional transportation program director John Lynch: 495 Express Lanes Construction The I-495 Express Lanes, formerly known as HOT Lanes, are about 90 percent complete and scheduled to open …
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Things could get a little bumpy
Although this winter hasn't been nearly as hard on area roadways as winters past, many residents are dodging potholes on secondary roads in their neighborhoods. Clearly, Northern Virginia's secondary roadways need ongoing maintenance, but Virginia Department of Transportation maintenance funds have run dry. Local lawmakers are frustrated over the problem, and some are wrestling with the ramifications of taking the responsibility from the state. "Some secondary roads in [Fairfax] County haven't gotten attention in 15 years, and we have a huge system of roadways," said Mount Vernon District Supervisor Gerry Hyland (D). "When are those people in Richmond going to adequately fund transportation funding in Northern Virginia before it's …
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Favorite shortcut closing in May
McLean drivers will lose one of their favorite shortcuts in May. A segment of Old Chesterbrook Road will close for the summer for the replacement of the bridge over Pimmit Run. The bridge is seriously deteriorated and now in need of emergency replacement, according to VDOT (Virginia Department of Transportation) engineers. Residents of the surrounding El Nido community, representatives from the VDOT and the office of Dranesville Supervisor John Foust met recently to discuss the long-awaited project. The project has been planned for several years said Bill Denk, president of the El Nido community association. "We're looking to the completion before the start of the school year. Maybe it will actually happen this time," Denk said. Here are 5…
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Shift will help ease congestion at interchange with 495, VDOT says
- NEWS
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Wednesday, February 22, 2012
The Virginia Department of Transportation will close multiple lanes on 66 West and 495 South overnight Thursday to address backups caused by a recent change in traffic pattern. VDOT had previously eliminated one of two exit lanes from 495 South to 66 West as part of the 495 Express Lanes project. To reduce some of the congestion caused by that change, VDOT said, it will restore both lanes at Exit 49, which takes drivers from I-495 south to I-66 west, and also open a fifth lane along I-66 west. VDOT will close lanes on 66 west and the exit lanes from 495 to 66 west from 9 p.m. Thursday to 6 a.m. Friday. One lane on 66 west will remain open. Overnight detour: Motorists using Exit 49, I-495 south to I-66 west will be directed to continue …
Friday, December 16, 2011
Detours in place from 9 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Saturday
Drivers traveling on I-66 east after 9 p.m. Friday night will have to find a different route to access I-495, as ramps to the Beltway close overnight for a major traffic shift. Virginia Department of Transportation officials said both exits from I-66 east to 495 north, along with three lanes on the northbound side of the Beltway, will close from 9 p.m. Friday to 9 a.m. Saturday as crews prepare to shift traffic to a new I-66 east flyover ramp. The shift will allow eastbound motorists to exit I-66 onto the new flyover ramp and enter 495 from the right side, eliminating the current left lane merge, the department said in a statement. The overnight work will also include extending the 495 right-lane drop near the new flyover ramp by 500 …
State collecting public comments on I-66 Intermodal Study
The Virginia Department of Transportation is looking at a variety of modes of transportation – including walking, biking and public transit – to help ease congestion along the Interstate 66 corridor. A second public information meeting on the Intermodal I-66 Study was held Wednesday night in the Arlington County administrative building, 2100 Clarendon Blvd. The $2.5 million study was conducted in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation along with seven different independent consulting agencies. It follows on the footsteps of two other studies from the past decade, said VDOT spokeswoman Valerie Pardo. The past studies have resulted in such projects as the Vienna Metro access ramp and spot improvements at …
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Year-long study will examine navigating the highway by public transportation, bike and roadways.
A Virginia Department of Transportation study now in the public comment phase could offer ways to make commuting along Interstate-66 more efficient. The I-66 Multimodal Study is looking at 11 mobility options — HOV lanes, bicycle and pedestrian corridor access and highway improvements among them — to move commuters along the busy stretch of road between I-495 and the Roosevelt Bridge more quickly. Kanti Srikanth, transportation planning director for VDOT, said the study is also looking at a variety of supportive multimodal improvement options like moving commuters by bicycle or mass transit, implementing transportation demand management and utilizing other roadways to alleviate congestion on the road, especially during peak hours. “The …
Ray Fridley
10:42 am on Monday, September 17, 2012
Underground utilities. That's great! There is no mention about what would be done concerning street lighting. The is a great opportunity to erect very decorative lamp styles instead of those bland corbra-head fixtures currently in use. A variety of nostogic designs are available, such as a cane style reminiscent of New York City, seen in Kentlands in Gaithersburg or a canister London style such … more ›