Manassas Park Legislative Agenda Includes Reconfiguration of Old Centreville Road

As reported by Manassas Park Patch in December, the Manassas Park City Council presented several legislative priorities to Virginia Sen. Charles “Chuck” Colgan and Del. Bob Marshall during an annual legislative dinner held on Nov. 29.  At the top of that list are improvements to Route 28 between Old Town Manassas and Interstate 66.

One of the medium-range improvements presented to the politicians was the reconfiguration of Old Centreville Rd/Ordway Road into a three-lane highway that runs southbound from Route 28 and would connect with Mathis Avenue in Manassas Park.  This would supposedly be done by using the existing right-of-way.

While I support traffic improvements that will ease the congestion that many of us face on a daily basis, I have mixed feelings about re-routing  some of the average 46,000 vehicles from Route 28 through the neighborhoods located along Old Centreville Road in Manassas Park and Prince William County.  It seems that this major reconfiguration does not serve the residents living here as much as it serves those who would live like to use our quiet residential area as a bypass.

As it stands, Old Centreville Road is mainly used by the residents who live along
its corridor.  The proposed changes would turn this 25-mile per hour, two-lane road into a major route for those drivers bound for Manassas.  It seems as though the ideas generated mainly came from those who live east of Route 28 in Manassas Park. 

Do any of the proposals look at Euclid Avenue or entirely new roads that could be constructed along unpopulated portions of Bull Run Creek or the railway heading into Manassas?  While the ideas may be numerous, the best option is one that has minimal residential and environmental impact but still alleviates the congestion we experience along Route 28.