Pedestrians can now walk directly from Merrifield to Fairfax Circle, or vice versa, along Route 50 (Arlington Blvd) without having to cross or step into the busy roadway.
The final piece of a multi-year initiative to improve the pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure on a 1.5-mile stretch of Route 50 between Blake Lane and Prosperity Avenue was completed last month, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation announced.
The last segment added a 10-foot-wide shared-use path from the service drive east of Lindenwood Lane to Nutley Street, along with a pedestrian bridge and some modifications to the Nutley pedestrian signal, according to FCDOT’s project page.
“It required a large team to coordinate all of this and keep projects moving on schedule and to have these wonderful facilities now open and usable by the community,” FCDOT project manager Dennis Marsh said in a video from the county highlighting the new amenities.
Construction on at least one of the seven projects in the corridor had been going on since May 2022, with the first segment — 60 feet of concrete sidewalk connecting a bus stop at Stonehurst Drive to curb ramps and crosswalks — wrapping up work that December.
In total, the initiative installed 2,300 feet of 10-foot-wide asphalt shared-use paths, 1,000 feet of 5-foot concrete sidewalk and two pedestrian bridge stream crossings along Route 50. It also included improvements to bus pads and curb ramps to bring them into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Funded by revenue from the county’s real estate tax on commercial and industrial properties, the projects had to be coordinated with the Fairfax County Park Authority and NOVA Parks to tie the new paths into existing trails, Marsh noted.
“It was just proper communication to make sure that everybody understood the goals we are trying to reach it and what we wanted to accomplish with these projects,” he said.
Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik, who represents the Merrifield area, called the expansion of the pedestrian network “incredible” to watch for someone like her who grew up nearby without those connections.
“Now, whether it’s for families, for young people, for those retiring, living here at The Virginian or in the community, it really makes a safe connection, a really comfortable connection,” Palchik said in the video.
More on the projects from FCDOT:
The completion of these projects gives local residents better access to nearby neighborhoods, shopping areas and recreational amenities along Route 50. The projects also provide easier connections to public transit and the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail that support longer journeys beyond the immediate area.
“Projects like this are key to building communities where residents feel safe and have easier ways to travel,” said Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik. “It’s not just about facilitating vehicle traffic but making sure that we’re being intentional and safe about including pedestrians and bicyclists and those who use other modes of transportation to get from here to there.”
In the future, the new amenities on Route 50 could connect to a shared-use path recommended along the east side of Nutley Street by county staff.
The path was added to the county’s comprehensive plan as part of an amendment allowing mixed-use development at the Providence Place shopping center — formerly known as Pan Am — but property owner Federal Realty subsequently backed off its redevelopment proposal, opting instead to refresh the strip mall’s look.
