The price tag for the ongoing project to widen Route 29 just east of Centreville has dropped.
The project, which started construction over a year ago, will add two lanes to a 1.5-mile segment of the road between Union Mill Road and Buckleys Gate Drive, expanding it from four lanes to six.
Initially, the project’s cost, including enhancements for pedestrians and cyclists, was projected at $97 million, but on May 7, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors passed an amendment to the county’s contract with the Virginia Department of Transportation, lowering the total cost by $2.6 million.
The reduction came after VDOT found that the funds allocated for managing construction risks were not needed, bringing the new total cost to $94.4 million.
Despite the cost reduction, Fairfax County’s financial contribution remains unchanged at approximately $17.5 million, reflecting a $4.3 million increase from the original amount in a 2017 contract due to inflation.
The project is still expected to be completed by spring 2026. Once finished, drivers will have continuous access to six lanes between Stringfellow Road and Meadow Estates Drive on the north side of Route 29.
Additionally, shared-use paths are being added along both sides of the roadway. VDOT also plans to connect pedestrian and bicycle trails at the Fairfax County Parkway and West Ox Road interchange.
