Hints of the Richmond Highway Widening Project

Empty Buildings, ‘No Trespassing Signs’: Widening Project Is Finally Coming to Fruition.

There’s an uproar going on in Mount Vernon about the empty businesses that are going to be demolished when the Richmond Highway widening moves forward. The current road configuration must be widened to make room for bus rapid transit that will run down the middle of the highway sometime in the future, The One.

Cheryl Jelks is the HOA president for the Terrace Towne Homes of Woodlawn which is right in the Engleside area. She posted pictures of the empty business shells and got responses immediately. Knowing about it and liking it are two different things though. “They are trying to be a Crystal City,” she said.

Jelks posted about 30 pictures of construction impacts in place already. One shows an auto shop all boarded up; a former 7-11 has the windows all papered up; a few VDOT ‘No Trespassing’ signs; the Mount Vernon Auto Clinic has new plywood in the windows; and there is one gas station with the pumps taken out. The Roy Rogers at the Jeff Todd intersection looks like it's still in business though.

There were a few responses on Jelks social media post, but it wasn't clear whether the responders were current residents, past residents or possible internet trolls trying to rile opinions. 

"All so sad and a big waste of money for all of us!" wrote Gina Marion. 

Pam Entwisle had a similar opinion. “Looking at these pictures is so sad,” she wrote. Entwisle is a past resident and heard about the widening project from a high school friend. "It doesn't really hit your gut until looking at these pics," she said.

Supervisor Dan Storck (D-Mount Vernon) has put a lot of effort into modernizing the streetscape on Richmond Highway through this part of Fairfax County. In tandem with the Virginia Department of Transportation’s widening project, he has launched “Embark Richmond Highway,” which is a blueprint to modernizing the area.

“It’s great to finally see, after decades of community meetings and planning, so much change happening on the highway,” Storck said in a statement. “As we bring our 21^st century walkable, bikeable, modern transit-oriented future to life with highway widening, ‘The One’ Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System and accompanying redevelopment, the next years will be challenging as we remove older buildings not part of our future and begin the utility relocations and construction to transform and modernize our community. It has been more than 100 years since changes this big last occurred. Much like remodeling a house, some tough steps have to happen before we can enjoy and benefit from the beautiful new space.” 

Phased Project

The widening project will be in three phases. Phase one is from Jeff Todd Way north to Sacramento Drive, then from Sacramento Drive to a spot north of Frye Road, and finally from Frye Road to Sherwood Hall Lane. It's a three-mile stretch that will go from four to six lanes. According to VDOT, the pricetag is not known at this time. "Estimated costs continue to be developed," it said on the project webpage.

Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2026 with utility relocations and construction on phase one will begin in mid-2027. To the residents and drivers along this stretch of highway, there will be lane closures and traffic cones starting next winter regardless of whether its utility relocations or road construction. It all looks pretty much the same from a passerby in the driver’s seat.