By KELLY HANNON
Commuters who work in Northern Virginia and Washington should brace themselves for six major road projects planned over the next decade.
Officials are promising not to make congestion worse, but the roads may not improve until the projects open, one by one.
"I have described it to people as Christmas-time shopping at the two malls all the time," said Commonwealth Transportation Board member Douglas Koelemay, a Springfield resident.
The state's $676 million Springfield Interchange project is wrapping up this fall after eight years of labor and sporadic lane closures.
It may be followed by $5 billion of additional road construction.
Starting with 2008 construction of the Dulles Metrorail extension in the Tysons Corner area, the work could include construction of toll lanes on interstates 95, 395 and 495, and the widening of I-95 to four lanes between Newington and Occoquan.
On top of this, road improvements will be needed to handle job shifts to Fort Belvoir and Quantico Marine Corps Base under the Base Realignment and Closure Commission. Also, work is planned on the Fairfax County Parkway.
The Virginia Department of Transportation and Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation want to develop a single team to coordinate the phasing of these projects and communicate with the public. Officials briefed Commonwealth Transportation Board members yesterday during a Charlottesville meeting.
About 600,000 commuters are expected to be affected, said Michael Rosenfeld, VDOT district construction engineer.
VDOT has held meetings with businesses and community groups for eight months to spread the word about the Metrorail project in Tysons Corner.
The agency expects a similar rollout for the remaining regional projects.
Employers are urged to think about offering telecommuting and flexible schedules, Rosenfeld said.
Commuters will be encouraged to consider a number of transit options, and the agencies are brainstorming ways to give people financial incentives to do so, said Corey Hill, a director with the Department of Rail and Transportation.
Pierce Homer, Virginia secretary of transportation, noted that some of the projects, including the I-95/395 toll road proposal, are still in the planning and study phase, and the outcome could alter how the process unfolds.
Kelly Hannon: 540/374-5436