Work began on Monday (Aug. 25) to overhaul a currently awkward intersection along Route 50 (Fairfax Blvd) in Fairfax City.
While construction may cause some disruptions, the resulting reconfiguration of the area where Fairfax Blvd, Warwick Avenue and McLean Avenue meet should make travel smoother and safer in the future, according to the city.
“This project is expected to last about one year and aims to enhance traffic flow and safety,” the City of Fairfax said in a press release. “We appreciate your patience as we work to improve our community’s infrastructure.”
In the works since 2018, the project will remove the existing approaches to Fairfax Blvd from McLean Avenue to the north and Warwick Avenue to the south, turning the six-legged intersection into a more conventional four-legged arrangement.
When first presenting the project to the public in May 2018, city staff noted that the six-legged configuration contributed to delays and long queues. Drivers lose approximately 20 seconds of travel time per signal cycle, and during peak hours, the significant amount of traffic on Fairfax Blvd sometimes blocks access to the less-used side streets.
The intersection also has few pedestrian accommodations, an abundance of nearby commercial driveways and a history of safety issues with 34 crashes between 2011 and 2017.
The city considered as many as 11 options for improving the intersection but ultimately landed on a design that will realign Warwick Avenue to eliminate left turns onto Fairfax Blvd and block all southbound access from McLean Avenue to Fairfax Blvd with a pedestrian island.
The traffic signal at the intersection will also be reconstructed. The Fairfax Blvd and Farr Avenue intersection will now have its own traffic signal, accompanied by new crosswalks and dedicated left-turn lanes.
Planned upgrades for pedestrians and bicyclists include additional landscaping, new curbs, ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps, and 8-foot-wide shared-use paths on both sides of Route 50, connecting to the nearby Boulevard VI and Northfax West developments.
Estimating a total cost of $8.75 million, all of it covered by federal funds, the Fairfax City Council approved a $4.12 million contract for Sagres Construction Corporation to build the project in April.
According to the city, construction workers will avoid full road closures to keep traffic moving, but there will likely be “periodic lane closures.”
“Please plan for potential delays,” the city said. “Access to all local businesses and residences will be maintained throughout the project.”
Construction is expected to wrap up around summer 2026.
