‘Light’ Cargo Would be Carried on Bi-County Parkway Between Dumfries and Dulles

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Virginia Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton accomplished two things today.

First, he told Prince William elected officials that a Bi-County Parkway from Interstate 66 near Manassas to Dulles Airport, and its eventual connection to Va. 234 and Interstate 95 in Dumfries, would not be used to transport heavy cargo.

Second, he said completing the environmental impact study that could pave the way to constructing the new road should be complete before he leaves office in January, making room for the state’s next gubernatorial administration.

A legacy project, the Bi-County Parkway, which has been studied since 2001, and would link I-95 in Prince William County to Dulles Airport in Loudoun County, has polarized residents in the community due to fears of increased truck traffic along the highway, and the impacts it could have on residential neighborhoods and the Manassas National Battlefield Park, which sits along the route of where portion of the road would be built.

Connaughton said truckers hauling heavy cargo prefer to use U.S. 17 in Stafford County which connects with I-66 in Marhsall, Va. due to heavy traffic congestion between Frederickburg and Dumfries.

Lighter loads?

Instead of catering to heavy truck traffic, trucks would use the Bi-County Parkway to carry light freight from the international airport, Connaughton said. His statement today goes against months of “misinformation” that has sparked protests from those who don’t want increased truck traffic near their homes, as well as a Virginia Department of Transportation report authored in December that noted the roadway will be used as cargo route to move freight between I-95 to Dulles Airport.

“There are two types of cargo,” explained Connaughton. “This would be air cargo, low volume… seafood, flowers, microchips, things that are too high in value or time sensitive to be put on a ship.”

Tough crowd

That statement drew groans from a crowd that was overwhelmingly opposed to the highway, and a pelting of questions from Gainesville District Supervisor Peter Candland, who was threatened by Board Chairman Corey Stewart to have the number of his questions he was allowed to ask cut short and his microphone silenced.

“I’m sure you hear the frustration and disappointment in the room,” said Candland. “This Board is not here to solve state-level or regional problems, and we’re just representing the people who put us here to serve them.”

Trying to shake the groans, Connaughton at least twice held up his hand and demanded silence. Afterward, he told officials a new Bi-County Parkway would a major collector and connector roadway that would alleviate as much as 10% of traffic on I-66, and up to 15% of traffic on U.S. 15, and help make a faster trip for commuters trying to get to job centers in Louduon County.

Highway a tourism booster?

The roadway could also improve tourism.

“I don’t think the county sees the benefits of having the [Manassas National Battlefield Park] because of the large number of cars already sitting in congestion near the battlefield on weekends,” said Connaughton.

The Bi-County Parkway would also improve travel conditions inside the Battlefield Park, as construction of the new road would prompt the eventual closure of U.S. 29 and Va. 234 inside the park — a congested area bound by the confines of federally-preserved land.

Since the late 1980s, a Battlefield Bypass aimed at moving traffic around the congested crossroads has been talked about but never built.

Outer beltway already exists

Today, Connaughton said a new Bi-County Parkway would begin where Prince William Parkway (Va. 234) ends at I-66, and then run north along a 10.5-mile stretch of land made into a 4-lane, limited access freeway.

Putting the kibosh on some critics’ claims the roads would be an outer beltway, Connaughton said Maryland has no desire to build a new Potomac River bridge crossing.

“Route 15 is already an outer beltway. When people ask how to get around traffic congestion and truck traffic, many already say ‘go 15 up through Maryland’ to Point of Rocks,” Connaughton explained.

U.S. 15, Va. 28, and and Gum Spring Road remain the two most heavily used roads for commuters in Prince William to access Loudoun County.

Homecoming

This was the first time Connaugton — who once served as the Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman until 2006 — had addressed a local governing Board since taking on the role of Transportation Secretary under Gov. Bob McDonnell in 2009. Now in the waning days of his administration, Connaughton today assured Woodbridge District Supervisor Frank Principi that, in addition to work on the Bi-County Parkway, the state is using existing funds to improve existing roads.

“I chuckle like a kid in a candy store when I think about the prospect of getting funding for all of these projects,” said Principi.

Including the Bi-County Parkway, Principi referred to transportation projects still under consideration like an expansion of Virginia Railway Express to Haymarket and the new Potomac Shores area in eastern Prince William and extending Metro to Woodbridge.

More funds, more roadway improvements

Connaughton touted new legislation passed this year by state lawmakers that is expected to provide an additional $7 billion in funding to the state’s six-year transportation plan.

“The great beneficiary is Prince William County. If you look at just county projects, $1 billion of the $14 billion [stemming from increased taxes from the recently passed transportation funding bill] are projects that will benefit this county,” said Connaughton. “These projects are long overdue.”

Roadway improvements like:

Widening I-66 from Gainesville to U.S. 15 in Haymarket

Widening Va. 28 from Linton Hall Road to Nokesville

U.S. 1 and Va. 123 interchange improvements

Va. 234 at Balls Ford Road improvements

Widening U.S. 1 in Dumfries

Shoulder widening on I-95

Improvements to Dale Boulevard

Have all been made possible by higher sales taxes used to fund road improvements, said Connaughton.