University Drive Traffic Calming Project Begins Today, Fairfax City

Press release from the City of Fairfax:

09/11/2020 4:32 PM

A project to reduce vehicular speeds and improve pedestrian safety along University Drive between Kenmore Drive and Stratford Avenue, in the City of Fairfax, Va., is slated to begin Monday, September 14. The project is anticipated to be completed by the end of the year.

Key features of the project include adding a missing section of sidewalk along the west side of University Drive, adding intersection bulb-outs to create better visibility and shorten the distance for pedestrians crossing the road, and adding curb islands that narrow traffic lanes and force vehicles to slow down.

Flagging will occur throughout the project. Drivers should be prepared to reduce their speed and follow the flaggers’ directions. The community will be notified in advance of any necessary lane closures or detours.

In addition to pedestrian safety improvements, rain gardens will be installed in the curb islands to improve water quality downstream by capturing and filtering stormwater runoff during rain events. New street lights and landscaping will be installed to enhance the corridor’s safety and visual appeal.

Once complete, pedestrians will have a safe sidewalk between the regional library in Old Town Fairfax and the new Point 50 shopping center in the Northfax East activity center. The $1 million project was designed with community input and funded with a 50/50 match from the state.

For questions or concerns, please contact project manager Christina Alexander at 703-273-3067. For more information and background about the project, please visit the project website. For progress updates during construction, visit http://www.unvtrafficcalming.com.

This press release was produced by the City of Fairfax. The views expressed here are the author’s own.