By Natalie U. Roy

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is planning major safety improvements along a section of Arlington Boulevard (Rt. 50), between Glebe Road (Rt. 120) and Fillmore Street. The Department recently held public listening sessions where members of the affected communities, including from Lyon Park and Ashton Heights, commented on these proposed significant changes.

Specifically, the project proposes a raised median to separate eastbound and westbound Arlington Boulevard traffic. This is an improvement that many residents in the community have been asking VDOT to consider for years. This highly trafficked portion of Route 50 does not have any safety barriers (median strip or jersey barrier) dividing fast moving east and west traffic. 

As a result of the proposed median, left turns will only be accommodated at the traffic signals at Irving Street and Fillmore Street. The project also proposes to add dedicated left turn lanes, on Arlington Boulevard, at the Irving Street intersection and extend existing left turn lanes, on Arlington Boulevard, at the Fillmore Street intersection. Additionally, the project proposes to extend the existing service roads on the south and north side of Arlington Boulevard to improve safety. This project may involve changes and/or breaks in limited access control.

At the design public hearing, residents asked questions and expressed concerns over bike lane safety, the access road extensions, the loss of trees on the pedestrian and bike path, cut through traffic into the neighborhoods, and the timing. Additional information can be found on the project webpage (www.vdot.virginia.gov/ArlingtonBlvd). For more information please email mark.vanzandt@vdot.virginia.gov.

The full presentation from VDOT can be viewed here.