Virginia Makes Changes To Ease Mark Center Traffic

In Virginia, Governor Bob McDonnell is announcing some measures to improve the traffic congestion at the Mark Center in Alexandria, where more than 6,000 new Department of Defense employees are still moving into a building known as the Washington Headquarters service.

To keep traffic moving during the morning rush on northbound I-395, the Virginia Department of Transportation is re-timing traffic signals, installing new signs and re-striping the Interstate 395/Seminary Road interchange to allow dual left turn lanes for traffic headed to the Mark Center. The route from the ramp to the Mark Center also has been reconfigured to allow two lanes.

Transit agencies have also adjusted bus routes to provide increased service.

Calling the changes “an important step to ease congestion associated with the influx of workers moving to the new Mark Center,” Governor McDonnell pledges to continue making transportation improvements.

Traffic forecasts indicate additional congestion problems are expected in the Mark Center area as more Department of Defense workers relocate to the site. About 5,000 of the 6,400 employees are expected to be at Mark Center by the end of this year.