The Impact of the Woodlawn Road Closing

As a 'Sept 11' related emergency measure,  Fort Belvoir closed Woodlawn Road (SR #618) and a portion of Beulah Road (SR #613).  This closing effectively shut down a major Richmond Highway (US #1) 'points west' connector for those living north of Fort Belvoir.   A high percentage of this traffic must now head north to the already dangerous Lockheed Blvd.  This aggravates the already difficult situation faced by pedestrians in the Route #1 corridor.  


Rt#1 at Belvoir Lieber Gate

Cyclists, denied access to U.S. Bike Route 1, must now use dangerous U.S. Route #1

Notice the lack of shoulders >
Pedestrians must step into traffic lane


Rt#1 at Belvoir Gunston overpass

During the Mount Vernon 15th Annual Town Meeting on 26 Jan 2002, Captain Barrett (Commander Mount Vernon Police Station) cited that since Fort Belvoir has closed Woodlawn Rd, accidents are up 38% around Fort Belvoir, 12% around the Mount Vernon Area and 6% in the Franconia area while accident rates are actually down in the rest of the county.   The Army representative indicated no plan to mitigate this critical situation. 

This increases the urgency for the Safe Crossing Campaign to communicate our message to VDOT.

It also begs the question,  why is the Army making no effort to provide alternatives?  

 


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