A complete rebuild and modernization to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act would cost more than a million dollars.Īfter reviewing the construction options, the minimal pedestrian usage, and the limited capital resources available, the District determined the deteriorating overpass had to be removed for safety reasons and no replacement structure would be built in its place. The cost just to replace the crumbling concrete stairs and provide a much-needed facelift to the painted cross beams and safety rails was projected at more than half a million dollars.
In recent years, the District solicited reports from architects and engineers to update and replace the deteriorating structure. Unfortunately, the District nor the Village was able to secure the funding for such an endeavor. One such proposal included modernizing the overpass to incorporate bicycle use and to expand the structure over 95 th Street. They had the choice of using the turf field or the grass fields along 93 rd Street.Īlthough the overpass was being used on a limited basis, the District reviewed several proposals over the years to modernize and replace the structure. Physical education classes and athletic teams were no longer required to take the journey across the overpass to the practice field. The acquisition of the 93 rd Street residential properties provided alternative practice areas closer to the school. The synthetic turf alone allowed 24/7 unlimited use of the field. The overpass was also used by students walking to school from the East.ĭuring the past 20 years, the overpass was utilized less and less as the main campus expanded North to 93 rd Street and the football field’s natural grass was replaced with synthetic turf. The football team used the overpass each day during the season to travel to and from their practice field. The overpass was used each period during the school day in order for students to participate in physical education classes or if a class was looking to use an outdoor space. The Southwest Highway pedestrian overpass was built in the early 1960’s to allow students to cross from the main campus to what was at that time the only field and open area near the school. Class of 2026 Course Placement Guidelines.VDOT said the increased costs were part of the scope of the contract. 9, details of which could be released in early January, according to VDOT. The condominium Regency at McLean obtained a $35,500 agreement, and Dolley Madison finalized a settlement on Nov. “Construction of the second phase of the project, the section of the shared-use path along Old Meadow Road from Provincial Drive to Route 123, will begin once additional funding is identified,” Murphy also wrote.Īccording to VDOT, the rapid growth of the Tysons area has resulted in a significantly higher cost for acquiring the easements.Īmong a handful of other right-of-way or easements transactions secured, Tysons Corner Property Holdings, the limited-liability company used by Southern California-based Tysons Corner Center owner Macerich, received no financial award.
“Over the next several months, crews will continue installing a retaining wall off of Old Meadow Road behind the Dolley Madison Apartments and will begin installing the bicycle and pedestrian bridge foundations and piers on both sides of I-495 and in the median of the 495 Express Lanes,” VDOT spokesperson Mike Murphy said in an email.įocused on building the bridge and part of a shared-use path on Old Meadow Road, the first phase of project is scheduled for completion in summer 2022. The $1.1 million increase is due to right-of-way costs, VDOT said.Ĭrews are developing a staging area where a drilling machine will be used to create the foundation for the pedestrians. When construction activities began in August, the project cost was estimated at $12.3 million. Until the bicycle/pedestrian bridge is created, residents east of the Capital Beltway have to use an interstate underpass at Route 123 or Route 7 overpass to get to Tysons Corner Center, essentially requiring vehicular trips to the mall.
The Virginia Department of Transportation says it has been working with private parties to secure deals, one of which involved a $698,920 payment agreement to the condominium Encore of McLean. The upcoming pedestrian bridge over I-495 in Tysons has seen its estimated costs rise to $13.4 million as landowners lock in easements and right of ways needed for the connector.