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

Construction Update – February 2019

Fort Myers crews continue with the installation of new sanitary sewer mains in the middle of Columbia Pike. There will be ongoing lane closures for this work, and traffic congestion is expected. Be safe and watch out for construction workers and pedestrians in this area.

Water service disruptions for new water main connections

All testing for the new water main and laterals has been completed. Fort Myers’ contractor, Amerigal, anticipates completing the remaining connections to properties along South Frederick Street, 5300, 55-Hundred and Wildwood within the next month, weather permitting. Upon completion of all service connections to the new water main, the old water main will be abandoned.

There will be water service disruptions as properties along this section of Columbia Pike are connected to the new water main. The water disruption at each affected property is expected to last 2 to 3 hours, but it could last longer if crews run into complications. The contractor will provide notice to affected properties 48 hours before the start of this work.

Location

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

Status

Construction

Fort Myer, the County’s contractor for this project, received its Notice to Proceed on Feb. 20, 2018. Crews are beginning 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.

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.).

The contractor has the option of Saturday work for the duration of the project. Saturday work hours are 10 am to 6 pm.

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

Staff provided the following project update to the Columbia Forest Civic Association in March 2018 and the Arlington Mill Civic Association in May 2018:

In May and June 2017, staff from the project team and public art gave project updates to community stakeholders: