Construction has started on new shared-use pedestrian/cyclist paths in the Fair Oaks area, the Virginia Department of Transportation announced last week.
The project will replace the current sidewalks on Post Forest Drive and Random Hills Road with 10-foot-wide shared-use paths.
The new path will extend along Post Forest Drive from west of Black Ironwood Drive to Random Hills Road before turning north along Random Hills up to the Monument Drive Transit Center — a transit hub for Fairfax Connector riders and other commuters that opened last year.
VDOT said it will make way for the new shared-use path by restriping and narrowing Post Forest Drive, eliminating the existing on-road bicycle lanes. Modifications to the curb and gutter might also be needed, and a bus shelter on the south side of the road will be moved 75 feet closer to Black Ironwood Drive.
“Post Forest Drive east of Random Hills Road/Legato Road will be restriped to align with the new road configuration,” VDOT said.
In addition to implementing the shared-use lane, VDOT said the project will make improvements to the Post Forest Drive and West Ox Road intersection:
- Adding crosswalks along the north and west sides
- Upgrading pedestrian signals
- Enhancing Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) curb ramps
The $6.4 million project is financed with a mix of federal, state and local funding and is scheduled for completion in mid-2026.
VDOT warned that, while construction is going on, weekday and overnight lane closures outside of peak travel hours should be expected in the area.
Map via VDOT
