Construction work on the first traffic circle in Falls Church is gearing up.
Signs are in place for the project at S. Maple Avenue and Annandale Road, which will convert the existing four-way stop with traffic lights into what transportation planners hope will be a better travel experience.
The $2.3 million project is expected to conclude next May. Ardent Co. is the general contractor.
“Expect delays, road and sidewalk closures throughout the project,” city officials said.
The design includes upgraded crosswalks with “refuge islands” to improve pedestrian safety.
The project moved forward despite delays in acquiring right-of-way easements at the Bowl America site, which sits adjacent to the intersection.
In other Falls Church news:
Forum on ‘Gordon Road Triangle’ slated for September: City Council members are preparing to take their first formal look at a report on development potential in the city’s Gordon Road Triangle.
“We want to digest what that report gave us and discuss next steps,” City Manager Wyatt Shields told Council members at a July 30 planning session.
Mayor Letty Hardi asked staff to invite members of the Planning Commission, Economic Development Authority and “other relevant boards” to attend the work session.
The 15-acre parcel is bounded to the north by W. Broad Street (Route 7), to the south by the W&OD Trail and to the west by Gordon Road and Shreve Road. Some parcels in the boundaries are in private hands, while others are city-owned.
In January, a technical assistance panel at the Urban Land Institute spent several days in the city to analyze possible development scenarios.
The analysts went on to deliver a written report to city officials. It suggested increasing allowable density, combining parcels and developing mixed-use properties on the site similar to other development that occurred to the east along both sides of W. Broad Street.
One proposal is already in the planning stage. It would take some of the Beyer Automotive Group property and an adjacent site and create a mixed-use development.
That proposal includes land in both Falls Church and Fairfax County. Earlier this year, Fairfax officials took preliminary steps toward potentially moving forward with rezoning to allow for development on that side of the side.
Celebration of Berman Park improvement set: Falls Church officials will host a ribbon cutting celebrating improvements to Berman Park and its playground on Monday, Aug. 11 at 6 p.m.
The 2.3-acre park includes a trail that connects S. Washington Street to W. Broad Street.
The park can be accessed between 229 Kent Street and 234 Irving Street. On-street parking is available for those attending the festivities.
