Planned improvements to Arlington Blvd are set to be discussed at a public forum next week.
Proposed changes by the Virginia Department of Transportation focus on a crash-prone stretch of Route 50 between Glebe Road and Fillmore Street. Among the proposed changes are a raised median and dedicated left turn lanes at some particularly hazardous intersections.
Planned upgrades, according to a project page, include:
- Constructing a raised median along Arlington Blvd
- Adding left-turn lanes at Irving Street in both eastbound and westbound directions
- Upgrading the traffic signal at Irving Street
- Extending the eastbound and westbound left-turn lanes at Fillmore Street
- Upgrading the Fillmore Street traffic signal
- Extending the eastbound service road to connect existing driveways between S. Old Glebe Road and N. Jackson Street
- Extending the westbound service road to connect existing driveways between N. Irving Street and N. Jackson Street
- Reconstructing portions of the shared-use paths on both sides of Arlington Blvd
VDOT is hosting a “design public hearing” about its plans on Wednesday, Oct. 30 from 6:30-9 p.m. at Alice West Fleet Elementary School (115 S. Old Glebe Road).
The nearly mile-long portion of Arlington Blvd averages 53,000 vehicles per day, according to VDOT.
The Irving Street and Fillmore Street intersections have been identified as especially hazardous based on crash data. Irving Street in particular lacks dedicated left-turn lanes, often leading drivers to swerve around those turning left to avoid an extensive wait.
VDOT previously hosted a virtual meeting on the project in August 2023, three years after studying this portion of the road. Changes are still several years out, with construction currently expected to begin in late 2028.
Members of the public have until Tuesday, Nov. 12 to provide feedback on the plans, either on the project page or by emailing [email protected].
