Traffic Headaches on Hunter Mill Road in Reston Prompt Thursday Meeting

RESTON, VA — It's no secret that Hunter Mill Road in Reston has some major traffic issues, and the Fairfax County Department of Transportation is hosting a community meeting Thursday night to discuss that very issue.

The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria of Lake Anne Elementary School on North Shore Drive to discuss the Hunter Mill Road Study and next steps.

"The purpose of this study is to address the recurring congestion on Hunter Mill Road from Sunrise Valley Drive to the Colvin Run Bridge during the morning and evening peak hours," the county says on its website. "The congestion is heavily concentrated at the intersections of Sunset Hills Road and the westbound Dulles Toll Road ramps at Hunter Mill Road. These two intersections are closely spaced and constrained by the existing bridge."

The problem is going to get worse before it gets better, with traffic only expected to increase in the future, especially with the opening of the Wiehle-Reston East Metrorail system, new development in Reston and an increase in "background traffic" from development elsewhere in the region.

The purpose of the study is to look at alternatives to mitigate the rising traffic and prevent the problem from getting worse.

Officials have proposed six alternatives at a community meeting on Sept. 15, an increase over the four alternatives presented at a May 2015 meeting. You can view those alternatives by clicking here.

Image via Fairfax County