Major Congestion Relief Project Nears Partial Opening

The Jones Branch Connector will soon be open to one lane of traffic in each direction.

The Connector is a new roadway connecting I-495 Express Lanes and Jones Branch Drive to Scotts Crossing Road, providing an alternative route across the Beltway and linking the eastern and central areas of Tysons. The aim of the project is to relieve traffic on Route 123 and other congested intersections around Tysons.

Ellen Kamilakis, a spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), said the bridge is still on time and on budget for $58 million. The Connector’s partial opening is scheduled on or before Dec. 12. One lane in each direction on the roadway will be available, as well as one of the multi-use paths on the side of the road.

Construction on the project started in January 2017. Substantial completion is planned for October 2019, meaning the Connector will be completely operational. Full completion is planned for November 2019. When it’s finished, the Connector will have two travel lanes and on-street bike lanes in each direction. Aiming to help make Tysons more walkable, the project features eight to twelve foot lighted sidewalks.

The Connector is expected to carry more than 32,000 vehicles per day by 2040.

Kamilakis said the most recent update on the project is that roadway grading is underway, with crews readying to lay down asphalt. Work is being done concurrently on the storm sewers and utility work. Work is also being done on the project’s three bridges, which will cross over I-495.

Photos and map via VDOT