Fairfax County Renames Lee Highway, Lee Jackson Memorial Highway

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — Two major highways in Fairfax County will drop their Confederate names, which will prompt address changes for residents and businesses

Fairfax County announced Lee Highway will be renamed to its route number, Route 29. Lee Jackson Memorial Highway will be renamed to its route number, Route 50. The changes will start on July 5.

The Board of Supervisors had voted in September 2022 to rename the two roadways with Confederate references. The county had to seek state approval before the renamings could be finalized.

The move comes as part of a larger effort by governments in the region to remove references to Confederate leaders. In a news release, the county cited its effort to promote inclusivity.

"The renaming of both roadways signifies our unwavering dedication to acknowledging the experiences of our community, especially our African American neighbors," said Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay in a statement. "Thanks to the dedicated work of all the community members who participated in the Confederate Names Task Force, we can put these divisive names behind us and continue to move our County in the right direction."

The renamings come after the broad created the Confederate Names Task Force in July 2021 to review if the names of Lee Highway and Lee Jackson Memorial Highway. The task force recommended changing both names, suggesting alternate names and financial assistance for those impacted by the name changes.

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Along with Route 29, other suggested names for Lee Highway had been Cardinal Highway, Langston Boulevard/Highway, Lincoln-Douglass Highway and Fairfax Boulevard/Highway. Other suggested names for Lee Jackson Memorial Highway were Little River Turnpike, Unity Highway, Fairfax Boulevard and Blue & Gray Highway.

A majority of respondents in a survey with over 21,000 responses opposed changing the names of Lee Highway and Lee Jackson Memorial Highway.

The Confederate Names Task Force noted in a report the survey was unscientific with limited ways to prevent multiple responses or input from outside Fairfax County. Survey respondents reflect an estimated 2 percent of Fairfax County's population over 1 million.

The roadway name changes will impact residents and businesses. Residents and businesses who have addresses on Route 29 or Route 50 will need to update address records, such as driver's licenses, information for utility companies, U.S. Postal Service, and legal documents for mortgages, land records, leases, loans, trusts, wills and more.

Business owners will also be responsible for updating their local and state business licenses, procurements with retail or wholesale companies, advertisement listings, mapping and other services associated with their businesses.

Address changes will be updated in Fairfax County records on July 5. Addresses will be automatically updated for property tax, voter registration and the Fairfax Water utility.

The county is using its funds to cover costs of new signage along both highways.

The county government is developing a grant program to provide financial assistance to those impacted by the roadway name changes. The program would have to be approved by the Board of Supervisors and could help cover new marketing materials, signage and other costs tied to the name change.