WAMU 88.5 : Morning Edition

Filed Under:

U.S. Route 1 Widening Decision Coming Soon

By: Michael Pope // May 25, 2012
Play associated audio
comments
Traffic has only gotten worse on U.S. Route 1 in Fairfax County after the Department of Defense moved thousands of employees to Fort Belvoir.
William F. Yurasko (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wfyurasko/3711698304/)
Traffic has only gotten worse on U.S. Route 1 in Fairfax County after the Department of Defense moved thousands of employees to Fort Belvoir.

The Federal Highway Administration is on the verge of making a difficult decision for Virginians about how and where to widen U.S. Route 1, also known as Richmond Highway, in Fairfax County. 

Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) last year helped secure $180 million to widen the heavily traveled north-south thoroughfare in an effort to accommodate the increased traffic because of BRAC-related expansion of Fort Belvoir. Now that the money is available, a new problem has emerged surrounding where should the road be widened. 

If it's expanded in its current location, it would go through a graveyard and encroach on a historic property. If a new route is created to the southeast, a horse stable would have to be closed to accommodate the new road. Moran says the lease for the Woodlawn stables is up 2015, which could influence the decision.

"There's no point in fighting to preserve them if they are not going to have their lease renewed or have their lease renewed at such a high rate that the current users can't even afford it," Moran says. 

Widening the rode is a high priority because Fort Belvoir already has thousands of new daily commuters.

Related Links

Arts & Culture

NPR

Fictional 'Mothers' Reveal Facts Of A Painful Adoption Process

After years trying to conceive, novelist Jennifer Gilmore and her husband decided to adopt. What they thought would be a relatively simple process was instead a long and painful one. In her latest novel, Gilmore channels these autobiographical experiences into fiction.

Food

NPR

In Raw Milk Case, Activists See Food Freedom On Trial

Activists say the case against Wisconsin dairy farmer Vernon Hershberger is about raw milk — and much more. His supporters have turned the case into a rallying cry for personal food freedom and the rights of farmers and consumers to enter into private contracts without government intervention.

Politics

NPR

Losers In Chicago School Closings Target Elected Officials

The Chicago school board on Wednesday voted to close dozens of schools, despite community protests that the closings disproportionately affect minority students. The Chicago Teachers Union and community activists plan to show their disapproval by campaigning against elected officials who disagreed with them.

Technology

NPR

How That 'Nigerian Email Scam' Got Started

You've probably seen it in your inbox before: Someone who claims to have come into a fortune needs your help. You can share in the profits — if you send along a deposit or your bank account number. Boston Globe correspondent Finn Brunton talks about the history of the "Nigerian prince" or "419" scam, which actually got its start long before email.

Leave a Comment

Help keep the conversation civil. Please refer to our Terms of Use and Code of Conduct before posting your comments.