New Rollins Drive Intersection Concept Presented In Fort Hunt

FORT HUNT, VA — A revised concept for a Fort Hunt intersection to address safety concerns has been presented by the Virginia Department of Transportation.

A meeting on the Rollins Drive intersection at Fort Hunt Road was previously held in January to propose a six-month to nine-month closure of Rollins Drive access to Fort Hunt Road. The majority of people who provided feedback on the proposed temporary closure of Rollins Drive did not support the closure.

Now, a revised concept was presented at an Oct. 30 meeting held by VDOT. The new concept would eliminate the existing left turn lane on northbound Fort Hunt Road and prevent left turns from Fort Hunt Road onto Rollins Drive. Drivers would be able to access Rollins Drive via Quander Road, which has a left turn lane from Fort Hunt Drive. A new channelizing concrete median would be added on Rollins Drive where it meets Fort Hunt Drive, allowing right turns only from Rollins Drive and right turns from southbound Fort Hunt Road. A pedestrian island would also be added on northbound Fort Hunt Road where the left turn lane would be eliminated.

VDOT has seen considering changes to the intersection due to "community concerns about pedestrian and driver safety." Rollins Drive is located on the west side of Fort Hunt Road, while the east side is named Westgrove Boulevard. The intersection has a stop sign on Rollins Drive at Fort Hunt Road, and traffic on Fort Hunt Road does not stop at the intersection. Crosswalks allow pedestrians to cross Rollins Drive and Fort Hunt Road at the intersection.

There have already been some improvements to the intersection area. According to VDOT, the travel lane on Fort Hunt Road was narrowed to 11 feet. On Fort Hunt Road, pedestrian crossing markings, new 35 mph speed limit signs, "additional $200 fine" signs, and relocated pedestrian warning signs were installed.

On Rollins Drive and Westgrove Boulevard, skip lines were added as well as "stop ahead" markings on westbound Westgrove Boulevard, upgraded stop signs, new "cross traffic does not stop" signs and "stop ahead" signs. Trees have been trimmed on the southeast quadrant of Westgrove Boulevard.

The next step for the project would be VDOT identifying funding and moving to design and construction.

Comments on the revised intersection concept will be collected until Nov. 20 by email to MeetingComments@vdot.Virginia.gov referencing “Rollins DrSafety Measures” in the subject line, or mail to Gilbert Chlewicki, DTE VDOT’s Northern Virginia District 4975 Alliance Drive Fairfax, Virginia 22030.