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Fort Belvoir Bypass Road Moving Forward
From the Times Community
By Dominic Bonaiuto
Oct. 27, 2005

Federal highway officials are continuing their environmental assessment of a new connector road between Richmond Highway and Telegraph Road that will allow general traffic to move more easily around Fort Belvoir.

The four-lane road would replace connections at Beulah and Woodlawn roads, which bisect the military post and were closed to public traffic for security reasons immediately after Sept. 11, 2001.

Four routes are being considered, but the most likely option appears to be an extension of Old Mill Road, which runs north from Richmond Highway skirting the historic Woodlawn Plantation.

The road would connect with Telegraph Road on the other side of the base just south of Hayfield Secondary School.

At a community briefing at the South County Government Center Monday night, highway officials said that, in addition to opening a new link, saving people from having to circle the base in some cases, they also are planning to realign the dog-legged intersection of Old Mill Road and Mount Vernon Memorial Highway (Route 235).

Local officials note the entire project would not work without some key concessions being made by the Friends of Woodlawn.

In order to make room for the four-lane road, the plantation agreed to give up a 40-foot stretch of right of way on its eastern boundary. In exchange, the Army will return two acres near the post's current Woodlawn entrance to the plantation's estate. The Army will eventually close that entrance and open another one farther south on Richmond Highway.

The plantation also agreed to move its entrance a little bit to the south, to make room for the interchange improvement.

Aside from the road improvements, officials noted the plantation is negotiating with Marriott to build a 150-plus room hotel at the south end of the estate.

The new road and improved intersection would allow easier access between Mount Vernon and the plantation, which was originally part of George Washington's estate until he gifted it to his nephew.

© Times Community Newspapers 2005