Congested Routes 1 & 123 to Get Major Renovations in North Woodbridge

Virginia Department of Transportation is looking for public input on the proposed improvements at the intersection of U.S. Route 1 and Route 123, but needs to hear it by April 4. 

In a public hearing at the Botts Fire Department station on Thursday night, VDOT heard from about 100 residents on their thoughts on the proposed interchange.

The public hearing is the first step in a long process for approval, next, the project will be considered by the Board of County Supervisors in early summer before going through several other approval processes. Granted that all funding goes as planned, construction would begin in Fall 2014.

The proposed change would affect approximately 1.245 miles of roadway from just south of Occoquan Road to north of Annapolis Way. 

The design would provide an upgraded intersection at U.S. Route 1 and Route 123, a busy intersection that Woodbridge drivers know all too well. Both roads at that intersection would be widened from four to six lanes. Traffic lights would be removed at the intersection of routes 1 and 123 as well as at Annapolis Way in an effort to streamline traffic. The light at Occoquan Road will remain in place. 

Specifically, the design called for Route 1 to be widened from four to six lanes between Mary’s Way and the Occoquan River. While Route 123 will be widened from Route 1 to just east of Interstate 95.

Route 123 will extend over the current railroad tracks to connect with Belmont Bay Drive. On both major routes, there will be improved sidewalks and shared-use paths to provide pedestrian and bicycle access to the urban area.

Belmont Bay residents Frank and Susan Mullen are primarily concerned with the noise and how it would affect their home, which is close to the railroad tracks and Woodbridge Virginia Rail Express station already. 

The Mullens entered a letter into the public record at Thursday’s meeting, with documentation of the current noise levels at their home.

“We are worried about the noise once the retaining wall is put up,” said Susan Mullen of the prospective design plan. “The sound from the trains will bounce off of the wall and hit right back at us rather than dissipating over Route 1. We won't have any buffering.” 

Woodbridge District Supervisor Frank J. Principi shares the Mullens’ concern for noise pollution in the area as well as what the aesthetics of the project will do for the community. 

“We now have fund in place for phase one of construction,” said Principi. “We are making progress and we know it has been a long time coming. We need to create a sense of place and community.” 

Additional turn lanes would be added at Route 1 and Occoquan Road to improve traffic.

Estimated project costs call for the following:

• Preliminary engineering: $8 million
• Right of way: $99 million
• Phase one of construction: $35 million
• Phase two of construction: $94 million
•  The grand total for the estimated costs is $236 million, but that number could change as it develops. 

Funding is in place for VDOT's six-year improvement program for preliminary engineering and partial right of way acquisition. 

To submit your comment on the plan, mail them to Calvin Britt, P.E. at 4975 Alliance Drive Fairfax, VA 22030. E-mailed comments can be sent to meeting_comments @vdot.virginia.gov but include the subject line “Route 1 Interchange at Route 123.” Residents have until April 4 to get their comments to VDOT, but must do it in writing. 

To view the progress on the project, follow VDOT's link.