Coming Soon: Fairfax County Parkway and Popes Head Road Interchange

Please note: The construction contract has been awarded. Construction activities are expected to begin in December and a "Pardon Our Dust" information meeting for residents and travelers is being planned for late January/early February.

This project will replace the traffic signal at Fairfax County Parkway (Route 286) and Popes Head Road (Route 654) with an interchange. The interchange will feature triple roundabouts that will allow traffic to flow freely via two new bridges over Fairfax County Parkway. 

The project also includes:

• Building a short segment of the future Shirley Gate Road extension that will provide pedestrian and vehicle access to the future Patriot Park (Fairfax County is designing the rest of the Shirley Gate Road extension)
• Constructing a shared-use path linking the Fairfax County Parkway Trail to the future Patriot Park
• Reconstructing the Fairfax County Parkway Trail 
• Installing a sidewalk along the north side of Popes Head Road 
• Extending Ladues End Lane to the new roundabout at Popes Head Road
• Adding an acceleration lane for drivers turning from Nomes Court onto northbound Fairfax County Parkway

At the intersection, Fairfax County Parkway averages about 64,000 vehicles a day and Popes Head Road averages about 3,200.

Estimated Project Costs

Preliminary Engineering - $3.7 million
Right of Way Acquisition and Utility Relocation - $10.6 million
Construction - $78 million

Total - $92.4 million

This project is financed with federal, state (including Smart Scale), Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and local funding.

Benefits 

This project aims to relieve congestion and improve safety and traffic flow while maintaining bicyclist and pedestrian accessibility and mobility.

Major Milestones 

First Public Information Meeting - December 2017
Second Public Information Meeting (Series) - September/October 2018
Third Public Information Meeting - January 2019
Fourth Public Information Meeting - November 2019
Design Public Hearing - December 2019
Begin Right of Way Acquisition - September 2021
Advertise for Construction - July 2023
Award Construction Contract - October 2023
Begin Construction - December 2023
"Pardon Our Dust" Meeting - Late January/Early February 2024
Final Completion - Late 2026