U.S. 1 Expansion Worries Business Owners

By Stephanie Tipple and KJ Mushung
For PotomacLocal.com

Anyone who has ever driven in the Occoquan area of Woodbridge may recall less than fond memories of massive gridlock and a sometimes tortuous daily commute. This rise in traffic issues has called for an expansion of U.S. 1 by the Virginia Department of Transportation, which has plans to raise the street level and add on-ramps in place of ordinary intersection turns.

A meeting was held March 24 to showcase the current plans for the project and allow residents to voice their concerns about the coming changes. The meeting, attended by over 100 people, started with a question and answer period, followed by a formal presentation given by those involved with the project.

John Maddox, with the engineering firm Whitman, Requardt & Associates, presented the overview. He stated that the changes were to be made in a “critical area for Prince William County” and went over what some of the alterations would look like, including the proposed detouring of Dawson Beach Road onto Express Drive and Belmont Bay Drive in order to turn left on U.S. 1 or reach Occoquan Road, which could impact the commute for the Belmont Bay community during the two phases of construction.

The estimated costs of the project are expected to be $236 million. This will cover the engineering costs, obtaining businesses and homes in the construction path for the right-of-way and the overall construction of the infrastructure, which will be comprised of widening both U.S. 1 and Va. 123, as well as a shared use path to enhance commuting and road capabilities between the area just north of Prince William Parkway, and the Occoquan River.

The plan is slated to go before the Prince William County Board of Supervisors this summer. If all goes smoothly and the design is approved, the acquisition of 20 acres of land, including the location of 41 businesses, one non-profit organization and a few homes, will begin in early 2012. But it’s the purchase of this right of way that had some people upset.

Richard “Dick” Krauss and Richard “Dick” Lynn are business partners who assert that this project could put them out of business if it goes through as planned. Krauss and Lynn own the Occoquan Harbour Marina, the building that holds Water’s Edge restaurant, the events facility Harbour View and Solis Energy Solutions in Woodbridge.

Lynn said that, while he supports Phase 1 of the project, Phase 2 would devastate his businesses because access to them would be cut off. He gave an example of why the plan is not feasible. “If a [marina] customer is bringing in his boat that’s 50 feet long and 15 and a half feet wide, how’s he supposed to make a U-turn at Route 1 and Furnace Road [to get to us]? He’s got another 35 to 40 feet of tractor in front of him and he’s 15-and-a-half feet wide. How’s he supposed to do that?”

Lynn pointed out that the next place for a customer to attempt a U-turn is further north under a bridge with a low clearance.

Ron Cole, general manager of the 991 Annapolis Way building that houses General Dynamics, expressed concern for Phase 2’s affect on Annapolis Way. He said the business owners need trouble-free access to their businesses, both for employees and for customers.

“It’s going to be inconvenient,” he said.

The General Dynamics Woodbridge Technical Center currently has approximately 120 employees, and another 100 will be moving to that location, according to Cole.

One area homeowner, Leah Kaiz, spoke about the sound impact that she said will be apparent in the area of construction. She expressed concern that the Jersey walls will “create a funnel-bouncing sound from the barriers,” that will amplify the automobile and train sounds that are present in the community.

Frank Principi, Prince William County Supervisor for the Woodbridge district, was very positive about the expansion of U.S. 1 despite the issues that may arise from construction. He said that these changes are a way to both move traffic efficiently in the community and boost investment in the area because it will create a more functional infrastructure and relieve some of the gridlock.

As for addressing public concern, Principi said, “This is what the process is all about: to get all of these concerns out on the table and work through each one by one.”

Comments from the community were encouraged and can be submitted to VDOT by April 4. Principi gave his web address, NewWoodbridge.org, as another place to go for information and communication about the plan.

To check in on progress of construction, visit VDOT’s website for updates and to make comments about the U.S. 1 expansion project.

KJ Mushung is the Newspaper Training Director and Stephanie Tipple is a columnist at NOVA Fortnightly.