$78 million road fix: We’ve got your first look at 2 new interchanges coming to Route 234 near Manassas

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY — As the construction ramps up for new express toll lanes on Interstate 66, and the population of Prince William County grows, more traffic relief is coming for Route 234 near Manassas.

The four-lane highway that links I-66 to I-95 has drawn attention lately with projects pushed forward by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, particularly at the Brentsville Road interchange and the University Boulevard intersection.

Both intersections are plagued by traffic signals that halt the flow of traffic and add to the congestion.

Prince William County Coles District Supervisor Marty Nohe and NVTA Chairman member praised the $1.3 billion six-year plan, which includes $78 million to construct new interchanges at these chokepoints. 

“Route 234 is going to get a lot of attention,” he said, noting the truck traffic at Brentsville Road and the two closely placed signals aren’t friendly to truck traffic. A flyover is planned for that interchange.

“Drivers get caught at those two signals,” he said, “truck traffic is the main source of congestion.” The NVTA has allocated $54.9 million for the Brentsville Road interchange.

Meadows Farms Nursery and Landscaping is a stone’s throw from Brentsville Road and frequently the traffic backs up at the traffic light, but assistant manager Joe Smith did not know about the interchange plans.

“It could help, but this depends on which way the interchange is configured. “Traffic now can be really backed up at times,” he said.

Unlike the new “diverging diamond” intersection at I-66 and the Route 15 overpass in Haymarket recently, and a new DDI will soon be built at Route 234 and Balls Ford Road, the new interchange at Brenstsville and Dumfries roads will be a jughandle.

Left turns will be eliminated at the Brentsville Road interchange as well, and motorists will access “jughandle-type” roads to continue in the desired direction. For example, a driver heading south on Route 234 heading to Prince William Parkway east will veer right, loop around the jughandle, across an overpass over 234, and access the parkway from there. It might take some getting used to, but each will be clearly marked with signs and road markings.

Route 234 at University Boulevard

Further north on Route 234, University Boulevard intersects Route 234 at the George Mason University Prince William Campus, north of the Route 28 interchange. With the addition of a new $24.2 million interchange here, the traffic signal will be eliminated possibly resulting in “better connectivity,” Nohe said.

According to Paolo J. Belita, a regional transportation planner at the Prince William Department of Transportation, this interchange will be designed and constructed as a “quadrant roadway” intersection, which is “at-grade,” and does not include a flyover.

At University Boulevard, the new intersection will be at-grade, but no left turns will be permitted to facilitate traffic flow. For cars turning left, they will be directed to Discovery Boulevard, circumventing the actual 234-University intersection.

Belita said the Route 234 corridor was recently studied by VDOT as part of the Strategically Targeted Affordable Roadway Solutions (STARS) program, which is used to develop comprehensive, innovative transportation solutions to improve congestion and solve traffic and safety challenges in = Virginia, he stated in an email.

The study identified safety and congestion challenges on Route 234 and developed innovative concepts that would prioritize solutions and maximize funding. The study developed designs at four intersections along the Route 234 corridor, which included the University Boulevard/Route 234 and Brentsville Road/Route 234 intersections.

A construction schedule for the two new interchange projects has not been determined.