The 1.5-mile section of Route 29 (Lee Highway) entering Centerville from Fairfax, Virginia, was officially started with a groundbreaking ceremony on the 8th to widen the 1.5-mile section from 4 lanes to 6 lanes.
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Kathy Smith, Sully District Supervisor, and Pat Herity, Springfield Supervisor, along with officials from the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Supervisor Smith said, “This project will greatly benefit the residents of the Sully District on their way home from work in the afternoon. I am pleased that Fairfax County can work with the Virginia Department of Transportation to expand the four-lane to six-lane system.”
The section between Union Mill Road and Buckley’s Gate Drive is where bottlenecks are constantly occurring with the estimated 30,000 vehicles pass each day.
The purpose of this construction is to reduce bottlenecks that occur during the day, including commuting, at the intersection of Clifton Road and Route 29.
The project which is estimated to cost $97 million will be funded by federal, state, and local governments.
Prior to the groundbreaking ceremony, large trees along Route 29 were cut down for construction.
This area is home to Colin Powell Elementary School and is home to many Koreans, and Koreans are welcoming the project.
Mr. Park, who lives in the area, said, “I welcome the start of this construction,” and “On the one hand, I am a little worried about traffic congestion until the construction is finished.”
Hwang Gye-sil, a real estate broker, said, “Centerville is gradually becoming a better area to live in. If Road 29 is expanded from 4 lanes to 6 lanes, accessibility will increase as well, so it will affect real estate prices.”