Fairfax County outlines $10.5 million Pohick Road pedestrian upgrades, schedules construction for 2031

Fairfax County Department of Transportation officials and their consultant WSP on Monday presented preliminary designs, schedule and a cost estimate for the Pohick Road pedestrian improvement project, a roughly 0.7-mile effort to fill missing sidewalk gaps and improve safety between La Grande Street and Aspen Park Road.

Martha Elonkal, a WSP project lead, summarized the main elements of the design, saying the project would build a 7-foot concrete sidewalk north of Lorton Station Boulevard and a 10-foot shared-use asphalt path south of Lorton Station Boulevard, upgrade curb ramps and bus pads to meet ADA requirements, add new crosswalks and pedestrian refuge islands, and construct two stormwater facilities to meet Fairfax County stormwater regulations. "The main two being the construction of a 7 foot sidewalk north of Lorton Station Boulevard and a 10 foot shared use path south of Lorton Station Boulevard," she said.

The team showed locations where the new facilities would connect to existing sidewalks and trails, noted areas where existing utility poles run near the proposed path, and identified locations where temporary construction easements or permanent right-of-way takings may be required. Map legend items presented included proposed asphalt shared-use path, proposed concrete sidewalk, ADA ramps, bus pads, temporary construction easements and permanent drainage easements.

WSP and county staff described two typical cross sections: a sidewalk assembly north of Lorton Station Boulevard with a curb-and-gutter and a 4-foot grass buffer, and a 10-foot shared-use path with a variable buffer alongside the southbound lane. The design will try to avoid utilities and trees where feasible; in constrained locations the team expects to either fill or cut slopes to match existing terrain.

The presentation included segment-level details: a proposed crosswalk at Baker's Drive, bus pad replacements near Waldron Drive, a proposed stormwater detention facility (presented as approximately 200 feet in length), and curb bump-outs and a new crosswalk at Aspen Park Road. Martha noted the proposed curb bump-outs could remove "about maybe 4 to 5" parking spots in the Aspen Park Road area; the number had not been finalized.

Schedule and cost WSP presented a schedule that starts with 60% intermediate design in the coming fall, pre-final design in spring, followed by land acquisition and utility relocation. The team estimated land acquisition would take about 12–18 months, with land acquisition completion targeted for fall 2029 and utility relocation by spring 2030. If those steps proceed on schedule, the county aims to begin construction in spring 2031 and expects construction to last approximately one year.

On cost, WSP provided a total estimate of $10,500,000, broken down as roughly $1,500,000 for preliminary engineering and design, $2,500,000 for right-of-way and utility costs, and about $6,500,000 for construction. Presenters emphasized that both the schedule and cost estimate are preliminary and subject to change as the design advances and as commenters, VDOT and county review the plans.

Questions from residents During Q&A, a range of resident concerns surfaced. One attendee asked why the project had taken so long to meet county walking-path standards; staff said project scoping and prioritization depend on available funding and the county's capital project queue, and they did not have a specific explanation for past delays.

A safety concern was raised about a crosswalk at Columbus/Cullum Street where a cresting hill limits southbound sight distance. "That hill ... makes the sight distance for this crosswalk very dangerous," Martha said, and she told participants the team was reviewing options with VDOT, including a flashing beacon and an advance flashing device placed before the crest to alert drivers. County staff added that any treatments at locations on state-maintained roadway would require VDOT review and approval.

On the question of a speed study, county staff said no formal speed study had been completed for this corridor; they said speed studies can be considered but would need to be coordinated with and accepted by VDOT to influence permitted roadway treatments. Staff also confirmed the Pohick Road project will not widen the roadway under this project.

Residents asked about utility relocations and whether overhead lines would be undergrounded. County staff said utilities are typically relocated in kind (poles moved); undergrounding is considered only if conflicts require it. Cost responsibility for relocations depends on whether utilities are in VDOT right-of-way, present by permit, or by prior right—each circumstance carries different cost responsibilities to utilities or the county.

Next steps Presenters asked for project-related comments by June 10 via the project web page and online survey (project code 6840). County staff said they will incorporate public comments where practical, will respond to VDOT and county review comments, and will begin land acquisition and utility coordination after pre-final design. The project team noted that some schedule steps could be expedited if design and land rights are completed sooner.