TRANSFORM 66 Outside the Beltway Project Update March 2018 PROJECT OVERVIEW The Transform 66 Outside the Beltway project (the Project) will upgrade 22.5 miles of Northern Virginia s Interstate 66 between I-495/Capital Beltway and U.S. 29 in Gainesville into a multimodal corridor that moves more people, provides reliable trips and offers new travel options. The $2.3 billion design-build project, which is scheduled for completion in December 2022, will result in two new Express Lanes alongside three general purpose lanes in each direction, auxiliary lanes where necessary, major interchange improvements, reserved median space for future mass transit, and new and expanded park and ride lots with more than 4,000 new spaces. The Project also includes 11 miles of new shared use trail along I-66 that integrate with County and Park trails, and 11 bridges with new or expanded additional bicycle and pedestrian facilities. VDOT has partnered with I-66 Express Mobility Partners (I-66 EMP) to design, build, finance, operate, and maintain the I-66 Outside the Beltway Express Lanes. I-66 EMP has contracted FAM Construction to design and build the Project. PROPOSED SHARED USE TRAIL DESIGN Near homes, the trail will be on the I-66 side of the noise wall. A concrete barrier with a fence will separate the trail from the roadway. Analysis of barrier height is ongoing as the design is being finalized. No Noise Wall Inside Noise Wall Outside Noise Wall WHAT S HAPPENING NOW Following Design Public Hearings in November 2017, early construction activities began. This early work includes pre-construction condition, geotechnical, and utility surveys. Additional construction activity will ramp up in late March-early April 2018. FAM Construction is conducting voluntary PRE-CONSTRUCTION CONDITION SURVEYS of properties located within approximately 100 feet of the project corridor. The surveys document existing conditions of homes and properties located near the project corridor before construction starts, and are completely Transform66.org 1
voluntary on the part of the property owner. Property owners eligible for a survey are being contacted through a letter in the mail. These surveys are unrelated to right of way acquisition or surveying. Before construction can begin, project crews need to know what s underground. This means survey crews are in the field LOCATING AND MARKING UTILITIES that are buried in the corridor, such as phone lines, water lines, and gas lines. Crews also need to determine how strong the soil and rock are where they ll be building, which involves GEOTECHNICAL TEAMS BORING to take soil samples. Some of this work has required clearing trees and brush on VDOT right of way near I-66 sometimes both inside and outside the noise walls to make room for soil boring equipment. Most geotechnical and utility work is occurring within VDOT s right of way. If access to private properties in needed, property owners are being notified on an individual basis. Clearing in preparation for geotechnical survey. PROJECT AREA MAP Transform66.org 2
CONSTRUCTION RAMP-UP TIMELINE Transform66.org 3
WHAT TO EXPECT Initial construction ramp ups will begin in March 2018. Activities include work zone set up, tree removal, grading and drainage work, erosion and sediment control, and utility relocation. MANAGING LANE CLOSURES AND CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS As traffic is shifted during construction, the red x/green arrow signs in use between Route 50 and I-495 will be taken out of service. These lanes will be converted into an additional general purpose lane in each direction during construction, allowing traffic to move more consistently throughout the day. HOV lanes will still operate during rush hours for commuters who carpool. As part of a Transportation Management Plan to assist motorists during construction, programs such as a 50 percent fare subsidy for commuter bus services on I-66, a new bus service from Front Royal to Prince William bus lots, carpool and vanpool formation incentives, telework subsidies for businesses, and subsidized E-Z ass Flex for low-income commuters will be implemented. Visit http://outside.transform66.org/learn_more/transportation_management_plan.asp for more information about the Transportation Management Plan for the Project. Additionally, more commuter options will be available in summer 2019 with the addition of 960 new park and ride spaces in Gainesville to promote carpooling and to encourage transit use during construction. Transform66.org 4
WHAT S HAPPENING NEAR YOU: ROUTE 28 AND I-66 The Project includes the EXTENSION OF POPLAR TREE ROAD over Route 28, connecting to Stonecroft Boulevard. By summer 2020, the four traffic signals on Route 28 north of the I-66/Route 28 interchange will be removed. To accommodate this signal removal, the entrance to the E.C. Lawrence Park ball fields will be relocated to a NEW E.C. LAWRENCE PARK ACCESS ROAD off Stonecroft Boulevard and the newly extended Poplar Tree Road. Work on this Project element is being done in coordination with the Fairfax County Park Authority. Visit this link to see the proposed design for the Park Access Road: http://outside.transform66.org/documents/segment_2_04_route_28.pdf A new overpass will RECONNECT BRADDOCK AND WALNEY ROADS. The current signals at these two roads will be removed in summer 2020. Rendering of proposed Poplar Tree Road Bridge CONTACT US Michelle Holland Megaprojects Communications Director VDOT, Northern Virginia District Phone: 703-259-3378 Email: michelle.holland@vdot.virginia.gov Nancy Smith Public Relations Manager FAM Construction Phone: 703-349-7423 x25064 Email: nsmith@fam66.us Transform66.org 5