Prince William County Kills Route 28 Bypass Project After Years of Controversy

The Prince William Board of County Supervisors voted Tuesday to cancel the long-debated Route 28 Bypass Project, ending years of planning and millions of dollars in studies and design work. The decision, which passed with a 5-3 vote, came after a contentious debate over the feasibility and cost of the project.

Initially estimated to cost more than $200 million, the road would have connected with Route 28 at a signalized intersection north of Bull Run Stream in Fairfax County. The plan to build the road, Alternative 2B, was the top recommendation from the 2017 Route 28 Corridor Feasibility Study. The project had received $89 million in funding from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) as part of a broader effort to improve the county’s transportation infrastructure.

County transportation director Rick Canizales confirmed that the estimated cost had grown beyond available funding, requiring an additional $80–$100 million to proceed. “After taking all this into consideration and doing all the design work that we’ve done at this point, we come to the board and let you know that as staff, we believe that alternative 2B is not viable because we don’t have enough money and we don’t have enough support in some of the challenges we’re facing,” Canizales said.

Fairfax County, a key stakeholder, did not commit to securing right-of-way approvals needed to move the project forward. “We’ve been trying tooth and nail to find an alignment and a price point that would work for this county… But I sit here wondering when that five and a half million dollars becomes $8 million, becomes $10 million, becomes $16 million just to get the project through design,” said Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega, who led the charge to kill the project.

Divided Board, Heated Debate

Supervisors clashed over the decision, with some arguing that the project’s cancellation would leave commuters stranded without a straightforward solution to congestion. Vega, representing the district most impacted by the bypass, was vocal about her opposition to the cancellation. “What are we fighting for? Aside from everything that you stated, I’ll tell you what I’ve been fighting for for the past five years. I’ve been fighting for the people that live in these communities… Do we have a problem on Route 28? Yes, we do. Are we going to do something about it? Yes, we will. Because I gave my word that we would, and I’m a woman of my word, and we’re going to follow through on that,” Vega said.

Others supported the cancellation, citing financial realities and the lack of regional cooperation. Supervisor Bob Weir pointed to Fairfax County’s refusal to support the project, stating, “Is it not correct that Fairfax County, particularly Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay, has stalemated us for months, and we have been spinning our wheels?” Canizales confirmed that he had been discussing right-of-way issues with Fairfax officials for nearly three years without progress.

Occoquan Supervisor Kenny Boddye argued that the project had become an unsustainable financial burden, stating, “We have to find a mechanism for giving this project a hundred million more dollars to even say it’s fully funded to continue on with the project. And right now, neither the CIP nor the five-year plan have any kind of plan for that money.”

Woodbridge Supervisor Margaret Franklin acknowledged the lack of viable alternatives but noted that either way, taxpayers would be footing the bill. “I just want to point out that if we’re canceling the project, we’re going to have to pay out-of-pocket likely for another project. And if we keep the project, you’re saying that we still have to come out-of-pocket. So I just want to be clear that either way, we’re coming out-of-pocket,” she said.

Brentsville Supervisor Tom Gordy also frustrated with regional politics, stating, “Regionalism really doesn’t work here. There are those that have, and then there are those that have not. And those that have wanted to continue to hold those of us who have not under their thumb. And this is a perfect example of that.”

Franklin, Angry, and Bailey voted to keep it, while Vega, Gordy, Boddye, and Chair At-large Deshundra Jefferson voted to kill it.

What’s Next for Route 28?

With the cancellation of the bypass, county officials are now looking at alternative solutions to address congestion along Route 28. One option under consideration is widening the existing roadway, though officials acknowledge that this project would also require significant funding and would need to be evaluated by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) for regional funding eligibility.

Despite the board’s decision, the county must now negotiate the financial closeout of the project with NVTA, which had allocated $89 million in funding. Approximately $5.9 million of those funds had already been spent on design and environmental studies and will need to be repaid. The remaining funds will return to NVTA’s regional pool, where Prince William County must compete for future transportation funding.

Residents and local business owners who have long relied on Route 28 for their daily commutes remain concerned about what comes next. “Something needs to be done,” said Vega. “I gave my word that we would, and I’m a woman of my word. We’re going to follow through on that.”

The board is expected to discuss alternative plans in upcoming meetings, focusing on securing funding for a new congestion relief strategy.