The Fairfax Parkway is nothing more now than a pot hole laden speed trap. The worst part is at Popes Head Rd which should never have gotten a stop light. In the rush hour it causes huge backups to let one or two cars cross.

So we can avoid it during that hour, what time is the rush hour?

Highly pissed Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Fairfax Parkway is nothing more now than a pot
> hole laden speed trap. The worst part is at Popes
> Head Rd which should never have gotten a stop
> light. In the rush hour it causes huge backups to
> let one or two cars cross.
One or two cross but about 50 enter the parkway from Popes Head after having sped down the road to save time; I wish there was no access.

Highly pissed Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Fairfax Parkway is nothing more now than a pot
> hole laden speed trap. The worst part is at Popes
> Head Rd which should never have gotten a stop
> light. In the rush hour it causes huge backups to
> let one or two cars cross.

So, you'll no longer be using the Parkway?

Terrific. One less stupid, non-drivin', cellphone-talkin' motherfucker out there!

Not sure complaining about an obvious problem makes this poster a non driving mf.
I drive the parkway and would have to agree with him/her. The area around 123 is full of serious potholes. Seems an obvious problem to fix. The light at Popes Head is stupid and does indeed cause backups.

Rob Roy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not sure complaining about an obvious problem makes
> this poster a non driving mf.
> Seems an obvious problem to fix.

So is the best thing to:

a) complain to VDOT, who fixes state roads
b) post a complaint on fairfaxunderground.com

I would prefer not to be on the road with someone who thinks b is the answer.

And why would anyone complain about an obvious problem? If it is obvious, then those who can fix it already know about it and refuse to fix it. I would term the problem a "serious" or "present" problem and not an "obvious" problem. An obvious problem is stuff gets wet when it rains.

the problem was reported. Next time you are on the parkway around 123 look at the pavement. White spray paint to indicate various portions of roadway to be repaired. Been that way for a month at least. VDOT answer so you will know: "We will get to it when we get to it"

Yeah I know no one cares but with the taxes Northern Va sends to Richmond I dont think repairing a pothole in a months time is asking too much.

on the parkway, eastbound approching the 123 bridge is pretty bad. I remember about 2 years ago it was so bad i always made sure to drive in the left lane to avoid damaging my car (impossible if you wanted to get off at the exit).
Finally VDOT came and repaved about 25 feet of it; of course that section is now destroyed again.

Rob Roy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Not sure complaining about an obvious problem
> makes this poster a non driving mf.
> I drive the parkway and would have to agree with
> him/her. The area around 123 is full of serious
> potholes. Seems an obvious problem to fix. The
> light at Popes Head is stupid and does indeed
> cause backups.

Okay, so folks on Pope's Head Rd, who undoubtedly pay way more taxes than you do, should be denied access to Fairfax County Parkway? Because the traffic light there delays YOU? I'm with ya bro, but only if they take the light out at Huntsman Blvd. That's the one that delays me!

just so y'all know - Popes Head light is NOT supposed to even exist. Was designed as an exitramp intersection in the original plans, same as Burke Lake, Lee Chapel, Fair Lakes, Franklin Farms, and West Ox.

They really should make it an overpass - no access between the two roads

say Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> Okay, so folks on Pope's Head Rd, who undoubtedly
> pay way more taxes than you do, should be denied
> access to Fairfax County Parkway? Because the
> traffic light there delays YOU? I'm with ya bro,
> but only if they take the light out at Huntsman
> Blvd. That's the one that delays me!


if yr bitching about the tax revenue aspect of it, Id say the number of ppl in Orange Hunt FAR EXCEED the number of ppl out Popes Head way - so in total, Huntsman light ppl give more $$$$$ to the tax coffers, I'd wager :)

Nova had no idea twenty years ago how much the area would grow.

We have terrible traffic,good schools,decent weather and great jobs.

I guess we should take the good with the bad.

nah, they knew it was gonna be this bad - the growth.

Old timers remember how bad Old Keene Mill Rd was 20-25 years ago

anybody remember the light at Backlick? How it used to back up traffic onto 95 in the afternoon? And how that was just the beginning of the "fun"...........

Anywho, the Parkway was just a twinkle in ppl's eyes for a LOOOOOOONG time and then 28 happened. All those Dulles Businesses got together and help pay for 28 to get widened and the politicos of Fairfax got it in their heads to put a bond on the ballot for the Parkway (a.k.a. Springfield Bypass).

The bond only paid for so much - which is why we have it more as a Hillbilly Highway (with all the lights and curb-cuts) than the TRUE Expressway it's designed as - hence the 50 means 50 crap

As much as I hate the intersection at Popes Head, the light has probably saved a lot of lives since this would be an awful at-grade crossing if it was uncontrolled.

I hit that light every morning coming from 123 and the backup for cars wanting to head north can easily be 20-25 deep. If there are a couple of cars turning left onto Popes Head you can typically get through, but every once in a while it is two full light cycles which seems like an eternity at 7:30am.

Agreed, however, that the road surface has deteriorated significantly over the past year. I don't expect totally smooth, virgin asphalt, but the roadway reminds me of the roads in and around Manhattan.

light is definately needed for an at-grade intersection

I just think that there doesnt really need to be any connection there at all and that an overpass/underpass is better

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I just think that there doesnt really need to be
> any connection there at all and that an
> overpass/underpass is better


I don't know the entire length of 7100, but isn't this true for almost every intersection that is now controlled with a light? The other intersection on my route to work that calls out for a better solution is Sunrise Valley. Even with the additional left turn lane heading west this still backs up nearly to Fox Mill in the morning.

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> nah, they knew it was gonna be this bad - the
> growth.
>
> Old timers remember how bad Old Keene Mill Rd was
> 20-25 years ago
>
> anybody remember the light at Backlick? How it
> used to back up traffic onto 95 in the afternoon?
> And how that was just the beginning of the
> "fun"...........
>
Are you talking about before the bridge where Amherst is went up? I remember them building that bridge...


Anyway, concerning the parkway: I understand they ran out of money for overpasses and whatnot, but I'm not too sure they've left enough room on each corner to one day put them in. I hope they haven't boxed themselves into a corner where there's now only room to keep a traffic light.

IMHO, the parkway shouldnt have any lights on it.

But Sunrise, Toll Rd, Wiehle, and Fox Mill, where designed for lights - I think only cause they realized at that point there would be a $$$$$$$ issue, but I dunno and most of that area was already business-developed by then, so they couldnt buy land for the ramps

Believe it or not, the Sydenstricker ramp (near Springfield) was originally designed to be at-grade, but they improved it cause they new the highway would be a living nightmare there. And they ended up kicking ppl out their brand new homes to build it (Innisfree, anyone? LoLz)

Most of the Parkway south of 123 is a widening of the old Pohick Rd (which they obliterated) up until the Hooes Rd ramp, where it then kinda follows Hooes Rd's old pathway (anybody remember that 4 way stop at Hooes and Pohick...........sheesh) up til Backlick.

The roadway is a new road from everything north of 123 to about Sunset where it overtakes whatever cut-thru road used to connect Sunset to 7

Anyways, unless we are gonna shell out some SERIOUS tax money, the parkway is gonna stay the same crappy, hillbilly way it is right now :(

snowdenscold Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Anyway, concerning the parkway: I understand they
> ran out of money for overpasses and whatnot, but
> I'm not too sure they've left enough room on each
> corner to one day put them in. I hope they haven't
> boxed themselves into a corner where there's now
> only room to keep a traffic light.

Good point. I don't know how they would ever put overpasses, etc. at the Franklin Farm intersection. Shopping center is literally right at the corner.

that part of the parkway was actually where the "outer beltway" was supposed to go.

Parkway got placed there cause the County already owned the land - and that's why they placed the Shopping Center there before the Parkway was even built

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
(anybody remember
> that 4 way stop at Hooes and
> Pohick...........sheesh)
>

Yes, it was in the middle of the woods and now there's not a tree around for 100 yards in any direction.

That fire station used to be tucked off the side of the road in the woods as well shortly before the stop sign. Now it's in the middle of a concrete jungle.

apparently, some of the money from the Dulles Toll road is going towards repair of the FFX Co. parkway. don't know if that money is being used as of yet. And some might argue that money collected for the dulles Toll road should only go towards repair of Dulles Toll road itself or lower toll. seems to be an area of discussion amongst politicans and bureacrats.

They will probably want to enact tolls for the FFX Parkway then.........

-----------------------------------------------

"...your suffering will be legendary even in Hell!"

they oughta just put another bond on the voting block - a parkway upgrades bond

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> they oughta just put another bond on the voting
> block - a parkway upgrades bond

Oh yeah, so my local property taxes can pay for road improvements that Richmond should be paying for.

Fuck that! How about this, don't widen Bum Fuck Route 121 in Ass Scratch County to 6 lanes. Use that money instead to give us at least a decent surface on the roads we already have up here.

YAY, more local taxes! Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Gordon Blvd Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > they oughta just put another bond on the voting
> > block - a parkway upgrades bond
>
> Oh yeah, so my local property taxes can pay for
> road improvements that Richmond should be paying
> for.
>
> Fuck that! How about this, don't widen Bum Fuck
> Route 121 in Ass Scratch County to 6 lanes. Use
> that money instead to give us at least a decent
> surface on the roads we already have up here.

good luck in that - you go ahead down to Richmond and make that argument - meanwhile, your great grandkids will still be stuck at the Popes Head light waiting for you to get that change to happen.

If we had waited for Richmond to get the Parkway built, our asses would still be using 123 to get thru Fairfax to get on 66 - and you damn well know it :(

YAY, more local taxes! Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Fuck that! How about this, don't widen Bum Fuck
> Route 121 in Ass Scratch County to 6 lanes. Use
> that money instead to give us at least a decent
> surface on the roads we already have up here.


This is something that I really cannot understand. There are major roads around Richmond that appear to be able twice the traffic in some areas that we have here in metro DC, so why build capacity that is hardly ever used.

The obvious question hasn't been asked yet... wtf is the "Fairfax Parkway"?

@ Putterman

one word - POLITIX!

John F "Jack" Herrity Parkway was and still is a godsend for practically the entire county.

Yes, they could have put in more overpasses and they sure didnt need to add an additional light at BCP when the 123 ramp is SO close but it is the only viable north to south option without traveling on surface streets. (OK I guess you can count 28 but its so far west, it mostly serves PWC and Loudoun commuters.)

JBass Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I guess you can
> count 28 but its so far west, it mostly serves PWC
> and Loudoun commuters.

Agreed, it doesn't do much to help the Dulles Airport users to get in and out of the busiest airport in the state.

Why isn't the Fairfax Co. Parkway concrete? It's a major thoroughfare - concrete seems like the logical choice.

not from here Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Why isn't the Fairfax Co. Parkway concrete? It's
> a major thoroughfare - concrete seems like the
> logical choice.


I've never really seen many concrete roads anywhere but down south (South Carolina on down). Winter weather can crack them easier than asphalt. The last time I rode on a concrete road anywhere north of the aforementioned area was in PA, and it was horrible. The entire thing was cracked to hell, and the ride was God awful.

==================================================================================================
"And if any women or children get their legs torn off, or faces caved in, well, it's tough shit for them." -2LT. Bert Stiles, 505th, 339th (On Berlin Bombardier Mission, 1944).

ThePackLeader Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> not from here Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Why isn't the Fairfax Co. Parkway concrete?
> It's
> > a major thoroughfare - concrete seems like the
> > logical choice.
>
>
> I've never really seen many concrete roads
> anywhere but down south (South Carolina on down).
> Winter weather can crack them easier than asphalt.
> The last time I rode on a concrete road anywhere
> north of the aforementioned area was in PA, and it
> was horrible. The entire thing was cracked to
> hell, and the ride was God awful.


64 from 95 to Va beach has a break in concrete slabe every 100 feet or so, it makes for theis repetitive "bump bump" every few seconds or so, Very annoying.

What you are talking about is old style concrete pavement which was crap and quickly abandoned in favor of asphalt. However a modern concrete pavement is much better and is used on all new road projects in the Midwest.

"64 from 95 to Va beach has a break in concrete slabe every 100 feet or so, it makes for theis repetitive "bump bump" every few seconds or so, Very annoying."

It's a highway songgggggg, play it all night long, on and on.......

Put a toll on the Fairfax County Parkway! sounds like a good plan to me. And the monies collected from it would go to fund improvements only on fairfax roads.

KeepOnTruckin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Put a toll on the Fairfax County Parkway! sounds
> like a good plan to me. And the monies collected
> from it would go to fund improvements only on
> fairfax roads.

-----------------------------------
suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrre it would :(

66 is cement and the drive is smooth.

In regards to the intersection at Popes Head Road, I asked Supervisor Herrity's office to have VDOT consider adding a right turn arrow from the middle lane of westbound Popes Head onto 7100 North and learned last week that they will be making this change in the next few months.

Anyone who uses that route in the morning knows that 15-25 cars can easily back up on Popes Head and it can be hard to get through on a single light cycle. I know that I have waited more than 10 minutes to get onto the Parkway on a busy morning. Adding an 'official' turn lane should really improve the traffic flow and benefit everyone taking that route.

Thanks for suggesting that and I'm glad they are doing it, we'll see if that helps some.

I know I probably sound like a douche for saying this but if you could remember that most of the driveways and some of the streets on Popes Head have very poor visibility and we can't see you if you are doing 40 or 50 around the curves. Thanks!

But those curves are so much fun.

Parkway is fucked. my beer in my coffee mug turns into a mess of flat beer and foam.

Some assholes already create a second right hand turn lane from the center lane on PHR. I've seen many near-accidents in the morning by people in the center lane that speed up during a green light and turn right onto northbound 7100 (NEVER a turn signal) and almost side-swipe those making a legal right hand turn. It will be nice when it's a legal option, but there is a LARGE percentage of the NOVA driving population that can't grasp the concept of "no right on red from a center lane"... (see 7100 and BCP).

should NOT be a light at Popes or BCP. BCP intersection should be RIGHT TURNS ONLY (cause the damn 123 ramp is right effing there) and Popes Head should be an overpass with NO connection to the parkway at all.

Damned glued-together hillbilly highway...........

I totally agree. 7100-N, from BCP to PHR is always a bottle neck in the morning.

Back in the late 1980s the Fairfax Journal ran many front-page articles on what was then called the Springfield Bypass. Some factoids:

The road was named the Fairfax County Parkway and intended to be truck-free, but that was changed because it would become the primary route for trash haulers from the transfer stations and incinerators.

The replacement of grade-separated interchanges with traffic lights was caused by unexpected costs in land acquisition. Many people were shocked by the number of traffic lights, first revealed in a Journal illustration.

The land cost increase was caused by an obscure county rule that assessed land with a foundation as though it had a completed building. The county continued to issue building permits for the soon-to-be acquired land, and builders rushed to pour foundations that they knew would never become buildings. You can still see some of these abandoned foundations along the parkway.

While Herrity was unquestionably the driving force in creating the parkway after the state refused to provide any money (hence the 7100 designation) naming the entire parkway after him was quite controversial and some current politicians whose careers were in their infancy at the time still hold a grudge. Specifically, Connolly and Bullova both wanted the newer piece near Fort Belvoir to have their names on it.

A lot of compromises were made on construction materials and techniques to reduce costs. So much that VDOT will not accept it into the state system without major rebuilding.

I Remember Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> The replacement of grade-separated interchanges
> with traffic lights was caused by unexpected costs
> in land acquisition. Many people were shocked by
> the number of traffic lights, first revealed in a
> Journal illustration.
>
> The land cost increase was caused by an obscure
> county rule that assessed land with a foundation
> as though it had a completed building. The county
> continued to issue building permits for the
> soon-to-be acquired land, and builders rushed to
> pour foundations that they knew would never become
> buildings. You can still see some of these
> abandoned foundations along the parkway.
>

Well that's just ridiculous - why didn't they re-write their own rule before shooting themselves in the foot? And why did they keep issuing permits, knowing what they wanted to do (and surely someone foresaw what actually happened) ??

@Snowden - I'm STUNNED you dont know the answer to this one, bro

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

But they didn't really make money if they ended up having to buy all the land back at inflated prices, after having given it away. Or am I missing something...

I've been trying to figure out what has been up with the traffic this week on the Parkway, did they screw up the timers on the lights? What's going on, it's taking an hour what took 25 minutes in the spring. I know school is back but it's never been this bad.

Tyrone: Yes I think so. Ever since the heavy rains a week ago the timing of the lights on the part of the Parkway I drive has been different. I don't know if they changed something intentionally that just coincided with the flooding or if the water damaged some of the electronics involved, but it's been much worse.

(I drive the parkway from Toll Rd. to Rte. 7)

Meanwhile the state and the county both have surpluses . . .

Thanks goodness Franklin shopping center is there. And widening of Franklin Farm Road...certainly hope not. If you build, they will come. Hope we keep Franklin Farm as it was intended to be, a small community with the charm of the country. For the commuters that cut through the neighborhood, I say keep the 30 mph, 2 lane road. For those that live in the neighborhood, keep your 30 mph and the commuters will find a better route.

Tyrone Shoelaces Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've been trying to figure out what has been up
> with the traffic this week on the Parkway, did
> they screw up the timers on the lights? What's
> going on, it's taking an hour what took 25 minutes
> in the spring. I know school is back but it's
> never been this bad.


BRAC realignment means a lot more people are taking the parkway to Ft. Belvoir

KeepOnTruckin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Tyrone Shoelaces Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I've been trying to figure out what has been up
> > with the traffic this week on the Parkway, did
> > they screw up the timers on the lights? What's
> > going on, it's taking an hour what took 25
> minutes
> > in the spring. I know school is back but it's
> > never been this bad.
>
>
> BRAC realignment means a lot more people are
> taking the parkway to Ft. Belvoir


+1000 or more like +8000, the number of people going to that fancy new building in "North Fort Belvoir" previously known as the Engineering Proving Grounds.

I think that might have something to do with your traffic troubles.

rain Wrote:

> don't know if they changed something intentionally
> that just coincided with the flooding or if the
> water damaged some of the electronics involved,
> but it's been much worse.

The only way that water has anything to do with the fucked up signal timing on the Parkway is if the VDOT signal engineers are suffering from hydroencephalitis (water head).

Another case of FXCO ineptitude. The Parkway has been in terrible shape soon after it was completed. It was over capacity the day it was opened. The County spent all the money for the land, infrastructure, sewer etc. and then decided 2 lanes would be sufficient in each direction. The land purchase, clearing, grading and sewer issues would be the biggest expense in the whole road process and adding a 3rd lane of asphalt would have been a small % of the entire construction project. Then they changed their minds about only clover leaf exits at certain points and went with the old traditional stoplight intersections. The engineers must not have paid attention how the capital beltway backs up all the time due to over capacity. I guess they didn't see over capacity coming.... Never heard about anyone getting fired over that one. Like the County decision makers who approve the building of new schools like Centreville HS and South County SS where the schools are several hundred students over capacity the day the school opens! Bring on the not-so-temporary trailers...... Never heard of anybody losing their job over these decisions either. How bout a little forsight in the future FXCO?

checkinin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> 66 is cement and the drive is smooth.


66 going west just outside the beltway is like a road in iraq. smooth drive my ass.

ill tell you the real shame about the fairfax county pkwy and that miserable interstection at popes head road that everybody wants to cry about...

the real shame is the poor folks that used to live on a beautiful rural road now have to live with a disgusting highway that has destroyed any last hope of keeping this area from becoming another urban wasteland.

Hey, I really think this should be a semi-interchange with no thru access for drivers on Popes Head (except in emergency) like a Michigan U rural-ized.

Highly pissed Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The Fairfax Parkway is nothing more now than a pot
> hole laden speed trap. The worst part is at Popes
> Head Rd which should never have gotten a stop
> light. In the rush hour it causes huge backups to
> let one or two cars cross.
Well guess what: They have repaved it in the past year.

popeshead once was beautiful Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ill tell you the real shame about the fairfax
> county pkwy and that miserable interstection at
> popes head road that everybody wants to cry
> about...
>
> the real shame is the poor folks that used to live
> on a beautiful rural road now have to live with a
> disgusting highway that has destroyed any last
> hope of keeping this area from becoming another
> urban wasteland.

When was the last time you went down Popes Head. It has been a haven for huge mansions and special zoning to keep 1/4 lots away. Huge development will never happen on that road , the resident millionaires make sure of that.

There have been lots of improvements to the parkway since then.

Fairfax County Parkyway sucks balls - end of story.

It's always a shame when it's impossible to travel down a major roadway without being stopped by multiple stop lights in a fairly short period. Fortunately I rarely need to go on this shit road. Route 28 from Route 7 to about I66 is an example of how a road should be setup. Took them years to do that and we are talking about two different types of roads but it puts 286 to shame.