VDOT News - Northern Virginia

FAIRFAX, Va. – The Jones Branch Connector, a joint effort by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Fairfax County to build a new crossing over the Capital Beltway in Tysons, has been named the 2021 National Project of the Year by the American Society of Highway Engineers.

The annual awards recognize outstanding work completed on transportation projects, including highways, bridges, traffic signals, railroads, public transit and bikeways. Projects are judged on criteria of complexity, innovation, social and economic considerations, safety and aesthetics, and sustainable features.

“This project is a wonderful example of solving complex transportation issues through collaboration and innovation,” said VDOT Chief Deputy Commissioner Rob Cary. “The Jones Branch Connector provides a safer and more efficient way to move people and goods through this key area, improving the quality of life today, while also ensuring the ability for future expansion of multimodal transportation in Tysons.”

"This is a once-in-a-generation transportation improvement,” said VDOT Northern Virginia District Construction Engineer Bill Cuttler. "We are proud to provide an all new crossing of the Capital Beltway that supports economic growth and network connectivity for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit and cars."

Completed in spring 2020, Scotts Crossing Road, coined the “Jones Branch Connector,” is a half mile of new road and bridges across the Beltway from Jones Branch Drive to state Route 123 in Tysons. Four travel lanes, two bicycle lanes and lighted sidewalks were built to link the Tysons East and Central areas, providing new access to the 495 Express Lanes and McLean Metrorail Station. The median is reserved for future transit as well. The road has been estimated to pull 21,000 vehicles a day from local intersections, increasing to 32,000 by 2040 as business and residential redevelopment expands in Tysons.

 “The completion of the Jones Branch Connector marked a milestone in our collaborative efforts to improve our transportation network to support the growth of Tysons,” said Tom Biesiadny, Fairfax County Department of Transportation director. “This project helps us move more people more efficiently and continues to build upon a grid of streets that encourages the use of multimodal transportation alternatives.”

Fairfax County led the design and development of the project, while VDOT broke ground in 2017 to administer construction. In less than two years, the team opened one lane of traffic in each direction, a milestone that allowed thousands of commuters access to the new direct connection while the remaining lanes and features were constructed. Archer Western Construction LLC was the contractor for the $60.2 million project, financed with federal, state and county funds.

Learn more about the project and see more photos online, including transparent soundwalls that maintain community views and time-lapse footage captured from Tysons rooftops.

Follow VDOT Northern Virginia on Twitter: @vadotnova
Follow FCDOT on Facebook: @ffxtransportation

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