There’s always something going on with Richmond Highway in Mount Vernon. 

Adjacent localities are renaming Jefferson Davis Highway, because Jefferson Davis was president of the Confederate States of America throughout its existence during the American Civil War (1861–65), supporting continuation of slavery. The road has been named Richmond Highway in Fairfax County for years.

A large section of the road in Mount Vernon, between Jeff Todd Way and Sherwood Hall Lane to the north is being widened with expanded transit and bicycling options.

Intersection improvements are part of these efforts and there are two planned at Mount Vernon Memorial Highway and at Sacramento Drive in phase 1 and at Radford Avenue, Russell Road and Mount Vernon Highway in Phase II of VDOT’s widening project.

In addition to those two intersection improvements, there are a few more that are in the funding process. In the December 2023 MVCCA newsletter "The Record," there was some information about the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approving funding for three projects to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety in the Mount Vernon District. Those projects included:

• $500,000 committed to widen pavement and add a bike lane on Fort Hunt Road from Belle Haven Country Club to Woodmont Road and create a bicycle lane connection from Richmond Highway to Belle View Boulevard.

• $100,000 to upgrade crosswalk with rectangular rapid flashing beacon on Fort Hunt Road and Westgrove Boulevard at Rollins Drive

• $420,000 to add a missing signalized crosswalk on the west leg on Huntington Avenue and Fenwick Drive.

In addition, a few bus stop improvements were listed under “Transportation Projects,” on the Fairfax County website. On the eastbound side of Mount Vernon Memorial Highway at Old Mount Vernon Road; crews installed loading pad, sidewalk, curb/gutter/handicap ramps along with drainage and grading work. Another improvement was made at Pole Road at Orville Street where they installed a loading pad and some drainage improvements.

Other improvements are in the design stage. This includes bus shelters at Richmond Highway at Woodlawn Trail and another at Rolling Road at Edinburgh Drive in the southern Springfield area. Construction is under way on a bus shelter at Arlington Drive and Richmond Highway where they are putting in a bench, sidewalk along with grading and a bus shelter.

Sites are being surveyed for bus stops at Huntington Avenue at Hunting Creek Road and another stop at Sherwood Hall Lane at Richmond Highway. At all these construction and future construction sites, drivers may experience lane closures but not major delays.

Community Update on Richmond Highway 

BRT Rescheduled for January 31, 2024

The Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit Community Update meeting has been rescheduled from Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023 to Jan. 31, 2024, due to unforeseen scheduling conflicts. This meeting will include an open house and presentation followed by a question and answer session. Officials will cover projects that have been completed, a summary of decisions and milestones, and the next steps for the Richmond Highway BRT known as “The ONE.”

When: Open House Jan. 31, 2024 - 6:30-9 p.m., Presentation 7 p.m.

Where: Bryant High School (2709 Popkins Lane) - Auditorium

Topic: Recap of project decisions and milestones, and overview of next steps