Work is underway to rehabilitate an aging Dulles Toll Road bridge in Tysons, but the span will no longer be embellished with art, as previously proposed.
Construction on the eastbound bridge over Route 123 (Dolley Madison Blvd) began in December, though it has been put on hold for the past few days as snow removal efforts continue, Virginia Department of Transportation spokesperson Michael Murphy says.
According to VDOT, the $11.85 million rehabilitation project will improve safety, provide more clearance for vehicles passing underneath on Route 123 and extend the life of the bridge, which was originally built in 1963 and repaired in 1995.
In addition to repairing crumbling piers and abutments, crews are replacing the existing concrete deck, parapets, steel beams and an overhead sign structure on the toll road just before the bridge.
However, plans to install a work of art on the bridge, transforming it into a more visually interesting gateway for drivers exiting Tysons for McLean, were ultimately nixed.
“It became clear that installing permanent artwork within the public right of way carries long-term requirements related to bonding, maintenance, and liability that extend well beyond the scope of this rehabilitation project,” Tysons Community Alliance (TCA) communications director Monique Blyther told FFXnow. “For that reason, the decision was made not to pursue artwork as part of the current construction effort.”
The nonprofit community improvement organization had proposed incorporating public art into the new bridge when VDOT was accepting public comments on the planned project in February 2024.
Facing a May 2025 deadline to finalize the design, the TCA enlisted artist Vicki Scuri to develop concepts for the potential artwork and launched a campaign later that year to raise $500,000 in sponsorships to cover the costs of the installation.
Though this particular project was determined not to be feasible, Blyther says the TCA is still “committed to advancing placemaking and public art in Tysons in contexts where long-term stewardship and implementation align with project parameters.”
Funded by the state, VDOT’s Dulles Toll Road bridge rehabilitation is expected to finish construction in early 2028.
The road work could require weekday and overnight lane closures on both the toll road and Route 123, though they would occur outside peak travel hours. A covered walkway has been installed to provide protection to pedestrians using the sidewalk along northbound Route 123.
“Drivers and pedestrians are reminded to use caution when traveling in active work zones,” VDOT said in a press release. “Be alert to new traffic patterns and limit distractions.”
