Columbia Pike Utility Undergrounding & Streetscape Improvements: County Line to Four Mile Run

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New traffic pattern for Columbia Pike west end

Effective Dec. 27, 2019, there is a new traffic pattern along the west end of Columbia Pike that is expected to cause additional delays for those travelling through this area. This change is necessary so the project contractor can install a utility duct bank system beneath the eastbound lanes.

The following changes will be in place between South Jefferson Street and the Four Mile Run bridge for most of 2020:

Only one lane is open in each direction of Columbia Pike daily, including weekends. An additional lane is open in the eastbound direction during weekday morning rush hours (7 am to 9:30 am).
There are new “no left turn” signs between South Greenbrier Street and South Dinwiddie Street, to help keep traffic and pedestrians moving safely during construction.

View alternate route and local detour maps

Thanks for your patience during construction. Businesses along this section of Columbia Pike are still open – please support them!

Construction Updates

Upcoming work and expected impacts

The Two-Week Construction Update describes construction activities planned for Monday,Feb. 10 through Sunday, Feb. 23 and their expected impacts.

Work at Columbia Pike/Frederick Street intersection starting Feb. 7 – Crews will excavate short segments of the duct bank trench while maintaining all vehicle movements currently permitted. This work is scheduled to last up to two weeks, including weekends and weather permitting.
On Feb. 12 crews installed new signals to help with the following traffic movements during construction:
- New left-turn arrow on westbound Columbia Pike – A left turn pocket is now open at the South Dinwiddie/Columbus Street intersection. This, along with the new turn arrow, helps westbound drivers turning left onto Columbus Street.
- New left-turn arrow on southbound Dinwiddie Street – This provides a dedicated signal for traffic turning left onto eastbound Columbia Pike.

Speed limit reduced

The speed limit in the work zone has been reduced to 25 mph. This change will be in place through the remainder of project construction.

Relocated bus stops

Bus stops will be temporarily moved during construction for this project and the Transit Stations project. See a list of current and planned relocations

Location

Columbia Pike from the Arlington/Fairfax County line to Four Mile Run (aka, the west end)

Status

Construction

Fort Myer Construction, the County’s contractor for this project, received its Notice to Proceed on Feb. 20, 2018. Crews began construction on the undergrounding phase first, moving in a west (South Jefferson Street) to east (Four Mile Run Bridge) direction.

Total project construction, including utility undergrounding and street improvements, is expected to last approximately three years, until early 2021.

Fort Myer will continue performing intermittent night work along Columbia Pike, as needed, when work is being performed at intersections. Nighttime work hours will be 9 pm to 7 am, Monday through Friday. Noise impacts will include back-up alerts from construction vehicles and noise from heavy vehicles and equipment (i.e. loaders, excavators, compressors, dump trucks, etc.).

About the Project

This work is part of the Columbia Pike multimodal project that will make Columbia Pike a safer, more accessible route for all users. Arlington is transforming this main thoroughfare into a complete street that balances all modes of travel and supports high-quality, high-frequency transit service.

In addition to visible improvements to the road, extensive work will occur below the roadway – to replace aging and leak-prone water and sewer pipes and to bury existing overhead utilities underground.

Public Process

This open house provided information on two Columbia Pike projects that have entered new phases of construction: Multimodal and Transit Stations.

December 2019: Staff provided a project update to the County Board - view the presentation