Accidents at N. Kings Hwy Prompt Intersection Changes

The Virginia Department of Transportation is modifying the I-495 off-ramp to N. Kings Highway after a resident complained of numerous accidents.

Juan Barnett, a government employee who lives at the corner of N. Kings Highway and Katherine Street across from the rear entrance to Best Way supermarket, began submitting complaints about accidents in October 2010. Since moving to his house in March 2010, Barnett says has seen at least five accidents at the intersection.

He has sent VDOT, county supervisors and the Fairfax County Police photos of accidents, as well as a Youtube video of the aftermath of a crash in January 2011. 

The problem is the Best Way market’s rear entrance, he told Patch. Barnett thinks the entrance is dangerous because cars getting off the highway at high speeds have to hit the breaks for cars leaving the parking lot from a complete stop.

“I still can’t understand that rear entrance,” he said. “People cut through that parking lot off of Telegraph [Road], so there’s constant traffic that’s not grocery store traffic.”

But Barnett said the problems extended beyond people leaving the parking lot. "People were driving down North Kings Highway and actually driving into the off-ramp to get into the back of the grocery store," Barnett said. "You had cars coming head-on at one another to jump into the grocery store."

Jalal Masumi, deputy project manager for the Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project, said VDOT did not have a problem with the design of the Best Way entrance when construction began on it in Fall 2009.

“After the construction, however, occurrence of accidents prompted VDOT to incorporate additional measures to control traffic movement,” Masumi said in an email.

VDOT has reports of eight accidents from January 2009 to November 2010. 

The state installed signage and white pylons in an attempt to improve the intersection. The signage has helped somewhat, Masumi said, but drivers are not always aware.

The pylons have been more effective, he said.

“In the attempt to further enhance safety of traffic movement, VDOT plans to construct a raised concrete median separating the lanes on N. Kings Hwy,” Masumi said in his email. “We hope this ultimate configuration, scheduled for Spring 2012, will significantly further reduce accidents.”

Lee District Supervisor Jeff McKay questioned whether the intersection was safe. “It’s probably not the best design,” he said. "They’ve done some work to it to improve it, and they’ve told me that they can’t close the entrance to Best Way, and that was what we first asked, if they could just close that entrance off."

But Masumi maintains the intersection is safe and thinks drivers need to be alert. “It has been designed the best way possible,” he said. “Meanwhile, VDOT would like for motorists to do their part … being alert and smart to safely maneuver conditions that don’t fit the norm.”