It is increasingly rare to report good transportation news in this area. Too often projects are scaled back or deleted, or a new study is released depicting the Washington Metropolitan Area as the most congested, having the longest commutes/most frustrated travelers, etc.

However, some added relief is in the pipeline.

Two significant regional projects are ready to move forward to construction this year – I-66 Westbound Spot Improvements (inside the Beltway) and the Fairfax County Parkway/Fair Lakes Parkway/Monument Drive Interchange.

On April 30th, a U.S. District Court Judge rejected an Arlington Green Party members’ lawsuit charging that the federal government circumvented environmental law by moving forward with the improvements. (This is similar to the suit brought by Arlington County to stop the I-95/395 HOT Lanes.)

Construction of an additional 1.3 mile westbound lane from Fairfax Drive to Sycamore Street on I-66 inside the Beltway is expected to start this summer and be completed in 2011 at a cost of $19 million. Two other spot improvements are awaiting funding.

The Fair Lakes Parkway/Monument Drive portion of the Fairfax County Parkway is a major bottleneck. The improvement involves a grade-separated interchange and widening the Parkway from four to six lanes between one-half mile south of I-66 and east of Rugby Road. The $104 million funding package includes $30 million federal stimulus dollars.

To view a rendering of this project, click here.

VDOT anticipates bid advertising to begin around May 25th with construction starting this Fall and completion by 2013.