A new bridge for cyclists and pedestrians is connecting two parts of Tysons previously separated by the Beltway.
The new bridge helps provide a link between the residential communities east of the Beltway to the Tysons Corner Center mall.
“The new bicycle and pedestrian bridge over I-495 (Capital Beltway) between Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) and Route 123 (Chain Bridge Road/Dolley Madison Boulevard) opened this afternoon,” the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) said in a release, “greatly improving bicyclist and pedestrian accessibility, connectivity, and safety in the Tysons area.”
Construction started in August 2021 and was supposed to be finished this summer, but VDOT officials previously said the weather was uncooperative.
“Construction on the first phase of the Tysons/Old Meadow Road Bike/Ped Improvements project began in August 2021 and is now substantially complete, with minor work occurring in the coming weeks until final completion with minimal impacts,” the release said. “The project’s second phase will extend the new shared-use path by half a mile along Old Meadow Road from Provincial Drive to Route 123; final design and construction will occur on the second phase as additional funding becomes available.”
The bridge and related improvements cost $13.4 million, paid for with a mix of federal, state and Fairfax County funding.
The trail has already seem some use from enthusiastic locals. Timothy Barrett, President of the McLean Hills Condominium Board of Directors, emailed FFXnow to share some of the excitement from the neighborhood.
“Yesterday, I took a walk with my dog, Bobby, across the new pedestrian bridge,” Barrett wrote. “I’m president of the McLean Hills Condominium Board of Directors, and we are delighted to have immediate access to Tysons now without crossing any streets! Bobby Barrett was most excited, enjoying a puppuccino at Starbucks on the Plaza, previously out of reach for his little legs!”
Let there be light…
On (and leading up to) our new bike/ped bridge over the Beltway in Tysons! pic.twitter.com/SDdXmqPmTT
— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) October 22, 2022
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