Updated at 7:20 p.m. on 4/1/2021 — The Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project has postponed the single-lane closure on Old Meadow Road near Route 123 that was scheduled to take place tomorrow “until further notice.”

Earlier: The left lane of Old Meadow Road leading up to Route 123 in Tysons will be closed during much of the day on Saturday (April 3), the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project announced earlier this week.

Prompted by the need for “minor asphalt repairs,” the closure will encompass one block near the intersection with Old Chain Bridge Road. It will take effect at 9 a.m. with all lanes scheduled to reopen by 4 p.m.

The Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project says that, with the assistance of flaggers, traffic will be maintained in both directions, and drivers will be able to turn onto Old Meadow Road and Route 123. The parking lots at 1690 Old Meadow Road and the CityLine property will still be accessible.

“Performing this work on the weekend will minimize impacts, avoid interference with other projects along Old Meadow Road and maximize the safety motorists and pedestrians,” the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project said.

The asphalt repairs are connected to efforts to realign Old Meadow Road with Capital One Tower Drive along Route 123, work that has now been going on for a year. The Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project previously predicted that construction would be completed by the end of 2020, but this would not be the first time that the project has taken longer than expected.

The Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project is overseeing the development of Metro’s Silver Line. It is a partnership between the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), Fairfax County, Loudoun County, Town of Herndon, and the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA).

The Silver Line’s first phase opened in 2014, while the second phase, which will extend the transit system into Loudoun County, is still inching toward completion.

Image via Google Maps

A new pedestrian bridge and shared-use trail linking Tysons Corner Center to the McLean Metro station is on track to start construction this summer, the Virginia Department of Transportation says.

The project will introduce a bridge for pedestrians and cyclists over the Capital Beltway, along with a 4,662-foot-long, 10-foot-wide path between I-495 and Route 123 along the west side of Old Meadow Road.

“I think this is going to be a good thing for Tysons,” VDOT Senior Project Manager Abraham Lerner said. “It will continue to go along with the goals of the Board of Supervisors and Fairfax County staff to implement multimodal measures and to try to reduce the dependence on the private automobile.”

This pedestrian and bicycle improvement at the I-495/123 interchange has been in the works for years as part of a commitment that VDOT and Fairfax County made when the Beltway was widened to accommodate toll lanes.

The I-495 Express Lanes project, which was completed in November 2012, called for the addition of pedestrian and bicycle connections throughout the Beltway corridor from Braddock Road in Annandale to Lewinsville Road in McLean.

However, a crossing at the 123 interchange could not be built at the time because of “a number of physical and geometric reasons,” Lerner says. So, Fairfax County and the state committed to constructing one in the future.

About five years ago, VDOT and the county proposed building a trail along Route 123, but the idea drew public criticism given the safety risks of having crosswalks across multiple Beltway ramps, according to Chris Wells, who manages the Fairfax County Department of Transportation’s Active Transportation Program.

Transportation officials then looked at options for building an overhead bridge across I-495 near 123, rather than immediately at the interchange. Old Meadow Road emerged as the most feasible site.

“Because of the design of the Beltway itself and the express lanes, there was only this one location that we found where we could put a bridge pier in the middle of the Beltway,” Wells said. “Otherwise, we were going to have to span the entire Beltway with a larger bridge structure, which would’ve been much more expensive.”

VDOT held a public hearing on the project in June 2018, and the design was approved in November of that year. But Lerner says the right-of-way acquisition process took over nine months to complete, since the project needed land from six different properties.

The Dolley Madison Apartments and Encore Condominiums were affected the most, with residents citing concerns about the loss of trees, the potential impact on security and privacy, and the safety of a path with no separation between cyclists and pedestrians.

“Because of all the concerns, the issues that were raised during the public hearing process, we needed to work with [residents] to make sure we did the right-of-way acquisition in a very thorough manner,” Lerner said.

The public comment process also led VDOT to incorporate lighting in its design for the planned bridge over I-495.

While VDOT has not identified a contractor yet, construction is expected to cost $8.5 million. The project’s total $13.4 million cost has been fully financed with funds from federal, state, and local sources.

Because the path is off-road, Lerner says the only significant traffic impacts will come when crews work on the bridge over the Beltway. Construction is expected to take a year, concluding in the summer of 2022.

Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik said in a statement that she is “delighted” that work on the shared-use path and pedestrian bridge will start this summer.

“This bridge will encourage walking and biking, save time, and reduce automobile traffic and carbon emissions,” Palchik said. “Residents won’t have to jump in their cars to drive and park at the mall, and I’m pleased that VDOT will be installing a lighted bridge. We are grateful to the Old Meadow Road neighborhood who worked with the engineering teams to transition the property and make this bridge happen.”

Image via VDOT

The realignment of Old Meadow Road with Capital One Drive along Route 123 in Tysons is nearly complete.

The Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project announced yesterday (Tuesday) that crews have finished the final asphalt, curb, and striping work on the project, which is being managed by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority as part of its expansion of Metro’s Silver Line.

“Crews have installed the pedestals for the pedestrian walkway signals and the signal work will be done in the near future,” the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project said in its update. “Demobilization of the worksite has started and will be completed by the end of December.”

Work on the street realignment has been underway since March and was originally expected to finish in August. The Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project cited changing site conditions and challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic as the cause of the delay.

Fairfax County and the Virginia Department of Transportation requested that MWAA realign Old Meadow Road at Dolley Madison Boulevard to improve access to the Capital One complex, which was affected by Silver Line construction at the McLean Metro Station.

According to the Dulles Metrorail Corridor Project, project officials had contemplated a proposal that would have closed Old Meadow long-term, but traffic studies illustrated that the impact would be too extreme.

Final completion of the realignment project has been set for the end of this year, pending Dominion Energy’s schedule for energizing the meter for the new pedestrian signals.

Image via Google Maps

Realigning Old Meadow Road at Dolley Madison Blvd (Route 123) in Tysons is taking a little bit longer than anticipated.

Work to shift the travel lane started in the spring and was slated to be finished by mid-August. Now, drivers and pedestrians likely won’t see the change until the end of the month, according to an update from the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project.

“Adjusting to the COVID-19 outbreak and differing site conditions delayed the completion of the first phase of the work, which included sidewalk and pavement demolition,” according to the update.

The realignment aims to improve access between the Capital One campus and Old Meadow Road. The work is a part of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority’s Silver Line project.

The Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project noted that crews from subcontractor W.M. Schlosser have finished drainage infrastructure and are working on signal equipment and landscaping along the south side of Old Meadow Road and the east side of Dolley Madison Blvd.

Once the lane shifts are completed, the crews will then start constructing a new median on Old Meadow Road at the intersection.

Work on the median, which is expected to start at the end of August, will require a southward lane shift of eastbound Old Meadow Road, according to the update.

Photo courtesy Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project

Work has recently started to realign Old Meadow Road at Dolley Madison Blvd (Route 123) in Tysons.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority’s Silver Line project is doing the work to realign the road with the main entrance to the Capital One complex, according to the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project.

The work started on Sunday (March 29) and will continue until Friday (April 3).

More from the Dulles Corridor Metrorail project:

Nighttime closures are planned this weekend to permit the installation of Jersey barriers. The right turn lane of northbound Route 123 will be closed at Old Meadow Road as well as the right eastbound lane of Old Meadow Road to facilitate construction. At least one lane of Old Meadow Road will remain open at all times in each direction.

The first phase of the project will take approximately eight weeks to complete and includes demolition of existing sidewalk and curb and gutter. Follow-on work includes installation of new storm drainage; installation of a new traffic lane, new sidewalk and new curb and gutter; and installation of new signaling equipment. Please drive carefully and safely in the area and remain aware of pedestrians and construction workers.

People can expect the left turn lane to Old Meadow Road from southbound Route 123 and the right turn lane to Old Meadow Road from northbound Route 123 to be closed from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday and from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Friday.

Meanwhile, the right lane of eastbound Old Meadow Road will be closed from Route 123 to Colshire Meadow Road during the same days and times.

Image via Google Maps

Update at 10:30 p.m. — The fire is under control, the fire department says.

UPDATE 800 block of Dolley Madison Blvd in McLean: The fire is under control. Units and investigators will remain on scene for the next few hours. pic.twitter.com/y1zFMObVYc

— Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) March 3, 2020

Update at 7:55 p.m. — The fire has gone through the roof of the house, the fire department tweeted. Route 123 is still closed. All of the occupants are safe, a second tweet said. 

Earlier: Firefighters are working to extinguish a house fire in McLean that has caused the closure of Route 123.

Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tweeted about the fire in the 800 block of Dolley Madison Blvd shortly before 7 p.m.

The fire department tweeted that the fire is located in the basement.

The Metropolitan Area Transportation Operations Coordination (MATOC) Program tweeted around 6:30 p.m. that all of Route 123’s lanes in both directions near the GW Parkway are blocked due to the fire.

UPDATE- house fire 800 block of Dolley Madison Blvd in McLean. Crews still working to extinguish. All occupants are safe. #FCFRD #FairfaxCounty pic.twitter.com/B7fivExKUD

— Fairfax Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) March 3, 2020

Fire Department Activity. VA-123 NB/SB between VA-193 and the GW Parkway. Fairfax County, VA. All lanes are blocked in both directions. Expect delays.

— MATOC Alerts (@MATOC) March 2, 2020

Photo via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter and map via Google Maps

Can you believe it’s halfway through the first month of 2020? Here are the latest stories about the Tysons area that the Tysons Reporter team has been reading:

New Brews Taking Over Mad Fox Space — “The 5,000 square-foot restaurant space in the 400 block of West Broad in Falls Church that was vacated by the closing of the Mad Fox Brewing Company last July will soon be filled with a new brew operation known as Solace Outpost.” [Falls Church News-Press]

Projects Causing Lane Closures Along Route 123 — “One of the projects, scheduled to start Monday, Jan. 13, will cause disruptions on Route 123 around the McLean Metro station… About a mile west from that spot is where the other Route 123 project is located.” [WTOP]

What To Do About the Flu — The fire department has some resources for people who come down with the flu. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue]

Spotlight on Mosaic District — The Washington Post highlighted the Merrifield development for its real estate section. [The Washington Post]

I didn’t realize how tall the new Mason High was going to be pic.twitter.com/fyFNWIRZhM

— Falls Church Views (@falls_views) January 7, 2020

Sneak Peek: Tysons Reporter has information on the tenant that will be filling a soon-to-be-vacant spot in Idylwood Plaza, so check back later today to find out what it is.

Have a great Tuesday and look out for Morning Notes again on Friday.

Work is set to start on Friday to rehabilitate the Chain Bridge Road (Route 123) bridges over Leesburg Pike (Route 7).

The Virginia Department of Transportation announced today that drivers can expect lane closures on both routes mostly during the night for the next several days.

The schedule is:

• Sunday-Thursday: 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
• Friday: 10 p.m. to 9 a.m.
• Saturday: 10 p.m. to 8 a.m.

State and federal State of Good Repair funding is paying for the $2.5 million project, according to VDOT. Construction is slated to finish in late 2020 and includes:

• repairing and resurfacing the concrete bridge decks
• repairing the bridge piers, abutments and bearings
• painting the steel bridge beams
• repaving Route 123 adjacent to the bridges

Once completed, VDOT says that the northbound and southbound bridges will be safer for drivers and pedestrians and lengthen the lifespan of the bridges, which were built in 1965.

“At the bridges, Route 123 averages up to 30,000 vehicles a day and Route 7 averages up to 86,000,” according to VDOT.

Photo courtesy VDOT

Updated at 4:20 p.m. — All of the lanes have reopened, MATOC tweeted. 

Southbound lanes of GW Parkway are closed near the intersection with Route 123 in McLean.

The closures are due to a vehicle crash, according to an alert from Fairfax County.

All of the southbound lanes are closed as of 3:24 p.m., according to Virginia 511.

Drivers can expect delays. Traffic is backed up about 1.5 miles, the Metropolitan Area Transportation Operations Coordination Program tweeted.

Crash w/ Injury. GW Parkway SB at VA-123. Fairfax County, VA. All SB lanes are blocked. Delays are approximately 1.5 miles.

— MATOC Alerts (@MATOC) November 5, 2019

Map via Google Maps

The birthplace of “Tysons Corner” may soon become the site of new development.

The site at the corner of Route 7 and Route 123 is known by locals as the place where Tysons originated with a tiny country store, according to the Tysons Partnership.

But after almost 100 years in the family, the site is now available to rent out to developers as a ground lease, Janet Caldwell, a relative, told Tysons Reporter.

The family decided to work with real estate firm Cushman and Wakefield to help them find a tenant for the 7 acres of land. The ground lease would allow developers to build on the property while paying rent to the original owners.

“You don’t find parcels of this size in an urban environment,” Paul Collins, the vice-chairman of Cushman and Wakefield, told Tysons Reporter, adding that this is a rare opportunity in the area considering the land’s visibility and close proximity to the Greensboro Metro station.

Less than 2% of development deals are made up of ground leases, Collins said.

He was not sure how much the land would rent for or how long the lease would be. He also couldn’t reveal the identity of the several parties interested in developing the land, but he did say “large international developments tend to be interested in this type of property.”

Once developed, Collins said he imagines the property will become a mix-used development with housing and retail similar to The Boro development nearby.

Photo via Tysons Partnership