The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is looking for public feedback on some planned improvements — including a potential widening — for a stretch of Telegraph Road in Franconia.
The goal of the project is to cut down on congestion along the busy road as well as improve pedestrian mobility.
In a presentation last week, VDOT said the most basic upgrade would be adding an “auxiliary through lane” for northbound traffic on the east side of Telegraph Road, which could hopefully help cut down on congestion.
Per VDOT, Telegraph Road averages about 20,000 vehicles a day, and Hayfield Road averages about 7,900 vehicles daily.
There are two additional concepts connected to that widening. They involve adding sidewalks to the east side of Telegraph Road or adding sidewalks on one or both sides of the street.
According to a release from VDOT:
- Baseline concept: Adding a northbound auxiliary through lane on Telegraph Road through the Hayfield Road intersection and upgrading curb ramps on the east side of Telegraph Road
- Widening to east concept: Adding a northbound auxiliary through lane on Telegraph Road through the Hayfield Road intersection, and upgrading curb ramps and providing an eight-foot-wide sidewalk on the east side of Telegraph Road
- Widening to west concept: Adding a northbound auxiliary through lane on Telegraph Road through the Hayfield Road intersection, reducing crosswalk lengths, upgrading curb ramps, and providing an eight-foot-wide sidewalk on the east side of Telegraph Road and a six-foot-wide sidewalk on the west side
There are two additional alternatives that focus just on pedestrian improvements with no road widening. According to the release, they are:
- Reducing crosswalk lengths and upgrading curb ramps at the Telegraph Road/Hayfield Road intersection
- Reducing crosswalk lengths, upgrading curb ramps, and providing a six-foot-wide sidewalk on the west side and an eight-foot-wide sidewalk on the east side of Telegraph Road
The survey will be available online through Feb. 13.
Image via Google Maps
