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

Construction Update – September 2019

Fort Myer’s crews are completing the final elements of the sanitary sewer installation and continue with installation of the storm sewer mains in the middle of Columbia Pike. Crews also have completed two of the four retaining walls. Installation of new curb, gutter and sidewalk will begin in the next few months in areas where underground utility work has been completed.

The duct back system, which allows utility companies to place their lines underground, has been completed on the west end of this project segment, from South Greenbrier Street to South Jefferson Street. Dominion Energy will begin pulling their lines through the duct bank in the next couple weeks, followed by Verizon and Comcast.

There will be ongoing lane closures, and traffic congestion is expected. Please be safe and watch out for construction workers and pedestrians within this area.

Speed limit reduced

The speed limit in the work zone has been reduced from 35 mph to 25 mph. New speed limit signs were installed along this segment of Columbia Pike. The speed limit change will be in place through the remainder of project construction.

Bus stops relocated

The westbound bus stop at Columbia Pike and South Dinwiddie Street, next to the Columbia Pike Shopping Center, has been temporarily relocated east near the Arlington Mill Community Center.
The eastbound bus stop at Columbia Pike and South Columbus Street has been temporarily relocated east near the 7-Eleven.
The eastbound bus stop at South Frederick Street has been removed to allow for the installation of a retaining wall.

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: