Richmond Highway Speed Limit To Be Reduced To 35 Mph Over 7 Miles

HYBLA VALLEY, VA — After a speed limit study, the speed limit on a large section of Richmond Highway will be reduced on Tuesday, May 23.

The Virginia Department of Transportation announced the speed limit will change from 45 mph to 35 mph between Alexandria city limits and Jeff Todd Way/Mount Vernon Memorial Way in Mount Vernon. Signage with the new speed limit will be installed on May 23.

The speed limit change came after VDOT's speed limit study of the 45 mph speed limit. The study team recommended the speed limit partly due to a high crash rate in this segment of Richmond Highway. In particular, the study team found a higher prevalence of pedestrian and bicycle crashes and speed-related crashes between Buckman Road/Mount Vernon Highway and the Alexandria city limits compared to other sections of Richmond Highway.

The new speed limit aims to improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers and transit users, according to VDOT.

Several officials representing the corridor expressed support for the lower speed limit.

"This will save lives and reduce injuries given the increased traffic volumes and multimodal needs the road was never designed to handle," state Sen. Scott Surovell, who represents the corridor in the Virginia Senate, shared on social media.

"Let’s be careful out there! This should help make it safer," wrote Del. Paul Krizek, who represents much of the corridor in the Virginia House of Delegates.

The speed limit study began in August 2021 after hearing concerns from residents in the Richmond Highway corridor. Preliminary recommendations presented in July 2022 called for the speed limit reduction from Alexandria city limits to Jeff Todd Way. However, the speed limit was recommended to stay 45 mph between Jeff Todd Way and Belvoir Road, where the study team found a lower crash rate.