Route 29 lanes close for Fairfax County Parkway widening project

Route 29 is getting a couple of lanes narrower in the Legato area to support the ongoing expansion of Fairfax County Parkway.

From 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. today (Wednesday), construction workers will implement single-lane closures to reduce Route 29 from three to two lanes in each direction at the parkway interchange.

Expected to remain in place for approximately the next four months, the traffic shift will enable crews to build a pier to support new, wider Fairfax County Parkway bridges over Route 29, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Construction began in June to widen Fairfax County Parkway from four to six lanes between Route 29 and Nomes Court/Ladues End Lane in Fairfax Station — one of three different projects that VDOT has in the works to redesign approximately eight miles of the parkway, which is also known as Route 286.

In addition to the road widening, which includes the bridges over Braddock Road, the “north” project will deliver noise walls around the Route 29 interchange, drainage improvements, resurfacing and an acceleration lane for drivers turning from Nomes Court into the parkway’s northbound lanes.

The parkway will also be widened south of Nomes Court down to Route 123 (Ox Road). Expected to begin construction next year, that project calls for new concrete and grass medians, Burke Centre Parkway and Route 123 intersection changes, and additional pedestrian and bicyclist infrastructure, including a shared-use path and a “grade-separated” crossing.

The third Fairfax County Parkway project involves an overhaul of the Popes Head Road interchange, replacing the existing traffic signal with a triple-roundabout design. Construction started last December and is expected to finish in late 2026.

The north and south widening projects are on track to finish in mid-2027, according to VDOT.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors authorized staff yesterday (Tuesday) to accept additional funds from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) for all three projects, which collectively carry an estimated cost of $321.3 million.

On top of $87 million that was previously awarded, NVTA is providing $37.4 million for the northern segment’s widening and the Popes Head interchange reconfiguration and $108 million for the southern segment’s widening, according to a county staff report .

“There are other jurisdictions in the region really struggling to move their projects that have NVTA funding, and it’s an increasing problem,” Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw said before the board’s vote. “We have had an innovative partnership here with VDOT to move this project along, so I just want to thank and congratulate everyone involved.”

VDOT will update the community on the north segment’s construction with a “pardon our dust” meeting on Thursday (Oct. 10) at its Northern Virginia District Building (4975 Alliance Drive). A presentation is set to start at 7 p.m., and the construction team, led by Roanoke-based contractor Branch Civil, will then answer questions.

“Once all three projects are completed, Fairfax County Parkway will have six continuous through lanes on the approximately eight-mile stretch from Route 123 (Ox Road) to Rugby Road (Route 750), and the current choke point at the Popes Head Road (Route 654) traffic signal will be relieved,” VDOT said in an announcement of the meeting.

Map via VDOT