Fairfax County General :
Fairfax Underground
Welcome to Fairfax Underground, a project site designed to improve communication among residents of Fairfax County, VA. Feel free to post anything Northern Virginia residents would find interesting.
Get ready to be ass-raped if you use Braddock between the beltway and Burke Lake Road. They are lengthening the lanes into Danbury Forest Drive on the West bound side and Wakefield Chapel on the East bound side. Yesterday the beltway was backed up from Braddock to 395 on the inner loop due to this construction.
Enjoy
"Braddock Road Construction
As you may have noticed, traffic signs along Braddock Road have begun alerting motorists to forthcoming changing traffic patterns. It is important to note that this work has nothing to do with the ongoing Braddock Road study, but rather is a separate project altering turn lanes.
The project is extending the turn lanes from eastbound Braddock Road to northbound Wakefield Chapel Road as well as the left turns from westbound Braddock Road to southbound Danbury Forest Drive.Beginning Thursday, March 17th, the striping company will begin to eradicate existing pavement markings and set temporary markings. The project will be done no later than May 31st, but is expected sooner. Mostly, the work will consist of paving and laying new lane markings as well as removing and rebuilding the concrete median strip that sits between Danbury and Wakefield to allow longer turning queues. It will not touch the grassy median strips either to the east or west of the project area. Following this work, the “Don’t Block the Box” markings will be reapplied. There will be no lane closures during rush hour, but work will occur between 9:30 am and 3 pm."
Braddock Road Wrote:
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> Braddock Road needs to be four lanes in each
> direction, beltway to 123, with full interchanges
> at Rolling, Burke Lake, and Guinea.
>
> Will never happen.
The only thing that will fix the traffic in this area is more homes!
fucked up traffic last night - backed up to 395 on the inner loop again because no left turn at Danbury forest. Looks like this will be the norm for a long time.
norm Wrote:
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> fucked up traffic last night - backed up to 395 on
> the inner loop again because no left turn at
> Danbury forest. Looks like this will be the norm
> for a long time.
I imagine the Danbury Forest denizens will soon start using the other routes into the hood. Probably a lot do now given that the morons on Braddock east don't know what Don't Block The Box means.
Back in the '90s, westbound Braddock traffic could make a left turn into the shopping center where Kilroy's is before they closed that median. Problem was that the left lanes on the eastbound side were backed up at the Port Royal Road light in the morning with traffic trying to get on the inner loop while the right lanes for getting onto the outer loop or turning onto Port Royal were free.
In six years of commuting from West Springfield to Rockville, I saw four collisions with my own eyes involving people making a blind left turn through the jammed up first couple of left lanes only to be slammed by somebody headed east in the mostly empty right lanes.
I didn't bother to count the post-accident messes for which I did not see the collision. There must have been at least a couple dozen of those.
Leave to VDOT to make a bad situation worse. The solution is to make every SOB who works in Richmond move to Little Rocky Run and commute to Seminary Road every day.
lik Wrote:
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> norm Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > fucked up traffic last night - backed up to 395
> on
> > the inner loop again because no left turn at
> > Danbury forest. Looks like this will be the
> norm
> > for a long time.
>
> I imagine the Danbury Forest denizens will soon
> start using the other routes into the hood.
> Probably a lot do now given that the morons on
> Braddock east don't know what Don't Block The Box
> means.
Danbury forest is a cut through to Rolling Road. Lots of commuters use it
3MeGX Wrote:
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> Back in the '90s, westbound Braddock traffic could
> make a left turn into the shopping center where
> Kilroy's is before they closed that median.
> Problem was that the left lanes on the eastbound
> side were backed up at the Port Royal Road light
> in the morning with traffic trying to get on the
> inner loop while the right lanes for getting onto
> the outer loop or turning onto Port Royal were
> free.
>
> In six years of commuting from West Springfield to
> Rockville, I saw four collisions with my own eyes
> involving people making a blind left turn through
> the jammed up first couple of left lanes only to
> be slammed by somebody headed east in the mostly
> empty right lanes.
>
> I didn't bother to count the post-accident messes
> for which I did not see the collision. There must
> have been at least a couple dozen of those.
Up until '82 or so you could come out of Ravensworth Shopping Cntr and make a left onto westbound Braddock Rd at the turn lane through the median you mention. More development, more cars, more crashes. Exit closed to West bound Braddock traffic from the plaza.
You also used to be able to go left on green at Queensberry Ave. Not any more! Knew a dude who's car got flipped there...
local... Wrote:
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> ....You also used to be able to go left on green at
> Queensberry Ave. Not any more! Knew a dude who's
> car got flipped there...
That was really dangerous. With that rise, just before the Queensberry light, on eastbound Braddock, the sightlines were terrible. And with more and more gross speeding and "devise" play, the more dangerous it got.
It took a few fatals at that intersection before they finally added the turn on green arrow only....
Braddock Road Wrote:
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> Braddock Road needs to be four lanes in each
> direction, beltway to 123, with full interchanges
> at Rolling, Burke Lake, and Guinea.
Never say never. I have been hearing something about this for a couple of years.
Nightmare Commute Wrote:
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> My husband got caught in that mess. Can anyone
> recommend workarounds from Western Fairfax to the
> Beltway?
From West to East you have Rt. 236 but that is really bad in the morning. Braddock is the reasonable route most of the time but for the next month it will just suck. I suggest books on tape.
Zak1 Wrote:
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> This is the bane of my existence when traveling
> eastbound on Braddock, at any fucking time of the
> day!
Well, they gotta move over at some point... you want people to just not use that lane at all?
Of course, cars need to merge. However, since this lane continuously causes a bottleneck, I'm going to blame the road design. I think their is too little warning for people to get over. They implemented this configuration during the 495 ExpressLanes construction. I guess they ran out of space, given the need for the northbound 495 on-ramp just yards away...
Zak1 Wrote:
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> Of course, cars need to merge. However, since
> this lane continuously causes a bottleneck, I'm
> going to blame the road design. I think their is
> too little warning for people to get over. They
> implemented this configuration during the 495
> ExpressLanes construction. I guess they ran out of
> space, given the need for the northbound 495
> on-ramp just yards away...
That is a mess. Always somebody stuck in that lane trying to get over. Then you have the traffic making a right from the light also trying to get across both of those lanes. Plus now the people trying to get from right to left to get over to the express lanes. Then on the other side trying to get from 495 all the way across traffic to turn on Ravensworth. It's a clusterfuck all around.
Zak1 Wrote:
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> This is the bane of my existence when traveling
> eastbound on Braddock, at any fucking time of the
> day!
VDoT deliberately accepted a fucked up interchange at Braddock and the Beltway as part of the cost of having the HOT lanes done. Before the HOT lanes you had the classic cloverleaf which didn't require that anyone stop at a light. Accessing the HOT lanes required that they do away with the forner leaf going from westbound Braddock to 495 south. It also required a light so that people going eastbound on Braddock could access the HOT lanes, people going westbound on Braddock could access the new route to 495 south and those coming from the HOT lanes could more easily get on Braddock east or west. If this wasn't bad enough, the new light was not synchronized with the light at Port Royal, creating new potential for traffic backups on Braddock. As I said all of this was a deliberate choice by VDoT.
Ironically VDoT is considering doing away with the light at Braddock and Queensbury which is synchronized with the light at Port Royal, and thus has little impact on Braddock traffic.
I got this email from VDOT, explaining the situation at that juncture on Braddock:
"Thank you for contacting VDOT with concerns with in the Northern Virginia area roadways.
In reviewing the concern about the forth lane, there are 3 signs to help indicate which lane the driver should be in to continue.
The first sign that is ground mounted indicates (from left to right), to east 620, to north 495 keep left, to south 495 keep right, the second set of signs overhead states 495 north Tysons Corner ¼ mile, the other sign beside that says, 495 south Richmond, Alexandria with 2 down arrows pointed to the 2 lanes. The third set of signs indicates 495 north Tysons Corner with a down arrow pointing to the 3rd lane from the left and right and the other sign indicates 495 south Richmond, Alexandria with exit only and 2 arrows pointing to the right, the arrows are above the far right 2 lanes.
It’s a matter of the driver paying attention to the signage.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any question or other concerns."
Having driven through the intersection a few times recently, I have to agree with VDOT. IF you are paying attention to the signs and trying to be in the correct lane, you should have no problem. It isn't that people are not paying attention to the signs. It is that people are trying to get ahead.
Whats with the new flashing warning sign westbound " new traffic pattern 9/19"? are they going to get rid of the extended turning lane and put everything back the way it was?
That would make sense, so that's probably not what they'll be doing. I can't wait to see the big surprise on the 19th. I'm sure whatever it is, it will add another 15 minutes to my commute.
Fairfax County DOT wanted to fix Braddok Road at Wakefield Chapel and west.
VDOT said no.
FC DOT did what they could, with county money.
Result was even more fucked up than before.
VDOT said Told-ya-so.
FCDOT said their hands were tied by VDOT.
In steps John Cook.
Forces VDOT and FCDOT into a meeting and won't let them leave until they agreed on a solution.
That's the solution being built later this month.
Oh I hope the solution is good and that an elected official worked to get it done!
My niece recently moved to that area and, traffic or not, it is not clear. I agree you shouldn't be a distracted driver but you shouldn't have to study the road signs like they're Thoreau to safely be on your way.
Traffic backs up the beltway after the Danbury Forest change. Now traffic backs all the way to 495 off ramp. Starting as early as 350pm traffic is bumper to bumper from Port Royal to Burke Lake Rd. Never happened before the change.
I wish they would just get rid of that left turn onto Danbury Forest. If they changed that left turn lane from West bound Braddock rd into a straight lane, it would take care of the stupid problems they made in April.
DD Wrote:
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> I wish they would just get rid of that left turn
> onto Danbury Forest. If they changed that left
> turn lane from West bound Braddock rd into a
> straight lane, it would take care of the stupid
> problems they made in April.
That's the obvious answer, especially since there is a fully signalled intersection at Southampton Drive just 300 yards up the road.
The Danbury Forest left turn exists mostly to support the people who want to cut through Kings Park and avoid the lights at Burke Lake and Rolling Roads. Close it off and solve multiple problems.
Cut Through Wrote:
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> DD Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I wish they would just get rid of that left
> turn
> > onto Danbury Forest. If they changed that left
> > turn lane from West bound Braddock rd into a
> > straight lane, it would take care of the stupid
> > problems they made in April.
>
>
> That's the obvious answer, especially since there
> is a fully signalled intersection at Southampton
> Drive just 300 yards up the road.
>
> The Danbury Forest left turn exists mostly to
> support the people who want to cut through Kings
> Park and avoid the lights at Burke Lake and
> Rolling Roads. Close it off and solve multiple
> problems.
agreed. Ive never seen a solution to a non-problem cause more problems. That turn never caused backups beyond Wakefield chapel. Now the backup goes to the off ramp of the beltway by 4pm most days.
VDOT vs FCDOT Wrote:
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> Fairfax County DOT wanted to fix Braddok Road at
> Wakefield Chapel and west.
> VDOT said no.
> FC DOT did what they could, with county money.
> Result was even more fucked up than before.
> VDOT said Told-ya-so.
> FCDOT said their hands were tied by VDOT.
> In steps John Cook.
> Forces VDOT and FCDOT into a meeting and won't let
> them leave until they agreed on a solution.
> That's the solution being built later this month.
where is the link to these facts? I dont doubt them but would love to see the exchange between the authorities.
Was someone bored and decided let's fuck up a major road. This made no sense from the beginning and they need to move it back. As drivers we're conditioned to merge left but that's the last thing you wanna do with this clusterfuck.
As far as heading to 495 from Braddock the signs are pretty damn clear. Just look up and read them. If you can't then stop at the Shell and walk to it and read it until you understand it.
Its time to get this screw-up in front of the media. If someone can get me some info on Cook vs. VDOT vs. Fairfax dot Ill contact one of the local douchebags in the media
There is some sign on Braddock West bound after going over the Beltway that says "New Traffic Pattern on or about 9/19/16" so perhaps VDOT is changing things back? OR making it worse?
Paving? Wrote:
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> They've been repaving a lot of the side streets in
> the area this summer. Maybe braddock road is next?
> It is in pretty rough shape.
I love how whoever is doing the side street repaving work puts signs on the main travel road that "Road Work" is going on, right lane closed, etc. Drivers merge into the left lane.
It ends up that the "Road Work" is on a side street that few people will be turning on to. Seems to be a new thing that is being done this year WTF? Couldn't the signs be clearer?
John Cook is the one who had all this done. It was put in motion about 5 yrs ago. He lives back there in the Danbury Forest area, so he made it easy for him and his neighbors to get back there.
They need to cut off the west bound turn on Braddock to Danbury, extend the Southhampton turn lane (can be done without taking a lane, cut into the median), and let everyone use the light.
CookistheCulprit Wrote:
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> John Cook is the one who had all this done. It
> was put in motion about 5 yrs ago. He lives back
> there in the Danbury Forest area, so he made it
> easy for him and his neighbors to get back there.
>
Wrong. John Cook lives in Kings Park. Two lights down from there.
vernonbuttsmeller Wrote:
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> After all the complaints, they are putting the
> road almost back to where it was before VDOY
> fucked with it in the first place. See John Cooks
> web site
I saw nothing about this on cook's website nor on his facebook page.
Supervisor John Cook supports the meals tax.
He will take this NEEDED money to fix Braddock Rd.
If you believe this I have a used Tuba I can sell you....cheap.
Cook said he was OK with the meals tax if the money was used for teacher pay increases, but not for "an elite, special program". Unfortunately once the tax is imposed the School Board can use its 70% for whatever it wants. Herrity and Smith voted against the proposal.
Median taken. Wrote:
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> Median taken. They dug up the median to the west
> at the Wakefield Chapel/Braddock intersection
> yesterday.
Yea they removed the cement median and replaced it with pavement stripes and orange barrels. WTF? I doubt they gained two feet of road total. All they need to do is UN-DO the dedicated left lane turn before the light. Go back to a 8-10 car long turn lane for Danbury Forest like they used to have so peps can use the left lane as a thru lane like before.
Ok, so I drive this road everyday. The left lanes still merge together, and aside from the barrels over by Danbury Forest, I see no changes. What are they changing? I thought the "traffic pattern change" whatever it was, was supposed to be done by now.
Looks like they ground down the pavement East of Wakefield Chappel to the Danbury turn and re-painted the lines to where they used to be. No longer a dedicated turn lane from before the light into Danbury Forest. Essentially undoing everything they had done.
Wonder how much it cost to change the road then change it back to where it was to begin with? $000,000's of our tax dollars. Oh well at least we know Donald Trumps money wasnt wasted on this - his money is never wasted on taxes like the rest of us suckers.
So it is going back to normal now? In all seriousness how did this even come about and why did they think this would be a fix? You don't even have to be an engineer to know this wouldn't have worked out.
Yes, traffic moved a lot better these last couple days. It should improve as people get used to the old pattern being back. The changes conditioned me to stay right due to the shit show left lane merge.
They have barrels blocking the Danbury forest turn - hopefully they go back to the short turn land or just block that turn altogether. Its dangerous at most times to turn left across the mad max traffic barreling towards 495 anyway. The expense of all this is a complete waste as it was better before they changed it and now changed it back. You could have run a library budget for five years on this boondoggle
cCCK7 Wrote:
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> Typical VDOT.
>
> If they were a plumber, you'd have shit coming out
> of your faucets after they were done.
I've heard rumors that the lane changes were done in part to get people headed west used to the idea that they should not use the left lane of Braddock Road, making it easier for VDOT to convert it to a HOT lane in a few years.
Bill.N. Wrote:
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> cCCK7 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Typical VDOT.
> >
> > If they were a plumber, you'd have shit coming
> out
> > of your faucets after they were done.
>
> I've heard rumors that the lane changes were done
> in part to get people headed west used to the
> idea that they should not use the left lane of
> Braddock Road, making it easier for VDOT to
> convert it to a HOT lane in a few years.
HOt lanes will screw local traffic big time. people looking to get into Kings Park will be totally screwed and even those on the westbound side will be backed up to the beltway.
Why are they kissing these Danbury Forest motherfuckers' asses?
Braddock has been a mess for decades, They should have researched the situation before they bought their dreary rowhouse. When I was looking for a house, I ruled out many that had intolerable traffic situations. Why is this such a difficult concept?
Fuck 'em, they made their bed and now they've got to lay in it, or sell the dump to another sucker.
why? Wrote:
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> Why are they kissing these Danbury Forest
> motherfuckers' asses?
>
> Braddock has been a mess for decades, They should
> have researched the situation before they bought
> their dreary rowhouse. When I was looking for a
> house, I ruled out many that had intolerable
> traffic situations. Why is this such a difficult
> concept?
>
> Fuck 'em, they made their bed and now they've got
> to lay in it, or sell the dump to another sucker.
its a legit question. Danbury Forest is dumpy as is Kings Park. Why should the beltway and everyone else going West have to suffer so the residents and cut-through artists can take a left into the Danbury subdivision???
Danbury Forest Drive Wrote:
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> Get ready to be ass-raped if you use Braddock
fairfax county has been illegally hiring an "out of state" company to do road work who only hires illegas - it's called a shell game and is not only illegal it's an interstate law breach
they've done it 30 years now
i'm now seeing road work on a SMALL AREA take endless ammounts of time
Looks like they are sticking with the left turn into Danbury Forest. They are going to split the difference with the left turn onto WF Chapel. There will be only a double yellow line to separate the two lanes. What a disaster this will turn in to!!
They need to do away with the let turn into DB Forest. It is too dangerous to cross, why do you think they put the big white box there!!
traffic has been great since they closed the left turn to Danbury, sure hope they keep it closed because it was backed up to the exit ramp of 495 before
So they opened up the road. Squeezed a turn lane into DF. The lanes are so close that the people turning are nosing their cars into oncoming Braddock traffic going eastbound, causing drivers to either stop or swerve into the other lane. Big white caution box is back, so be careful out there.
CLOSE THE TURN TO DF!!! NO NEED TO WASTE THIS MUCH TIME AND MONEY FOR THE 200 RESIDENTS WHO LIVE BACK THERE!!!!