A new sidewalk would improve pedestrian safety on Columbia Pike
A 6-foot-wide sidewalk planned for Columbia Pike in central Annandale is aimed at improving pedestrian safety.
Project manager Latesa Turner, of the Fairfax County Department of Transportation, described the project at a virtual community meeting on Jan. 23.
The new sidewalk would fill in the gaps where there is no safe route to walk on the south side of Columbia Pike between Backlick Road and Tom Davis Drive.
There is a narrow sidewalk in poor condition in some areas and no sidewalk at all along parts of that road. A 6 to 8-foot landscape panel would be added between the street and the sidewalk.
The project also includes a new crosswalk on Columbia Pike at Tom Davis Drive. The crosswalk will include high-visibility markings, upgraded ADA-compliant curb ramps, and a realignment of Tom Davis Drive at the intersection.
Two driveways would be removed on Columbia Pike – one in front of Jiffy Lube and one next to Hanmi Post.
Columbia Pike “is chaotic for vehicles and pedestrians,” said Mason Supervisor Penny Gross. “There are too many curb cuts. Eliminating two of them shouldn’t affect access to businesses.”
The end result will be a more attractive and safer corridor that meets the goals of the Annandale revitalization plan, Gross said.
The project will impact six properties, for which Fairfax County will need to attain rights-of-way. Temporary grading easements will be needed for four of the parcels.
The project could also require the relocation of existing overhead and underground utilities operated by Dominion Energy, Washington Gas, Fairfax Water, and Verizon.
Some of the businesses along Columbia Pike that will be affected by the sidewalk project include Jiffy Lube, the To Sok Jip restaurant, JJ Hair Salon, Hanmi Post, Thai Sushi Eats, and Gloria Beauttie Total Fashion.
The project design includes the removal of existing pavement, re-grading the area between the new sidewalk and building frontage to address drainage, and connecting building entrances to the new sidewalk.
The sidewalk project does not include streetscape improvements along that stretch of Columbia Pike. Turner said that could be done in the future if feasible and if funds are available.
The project design is expected to be 90 percent completed in early 2024 and 100 percent completed in summer 2025. Land acquisition will occur from spring 2024 to spring 2025. The construction bid will be awarded in early 2026. Construction will be carried out in 2026-27.
A sidewalk on that section of the corridor was recommended in the Columbia Pike Pedestrian and Bicycle Study, published in 2018.
Members of the public can submit comments online or via email to [email protected]. The deadline for comments is Feb. 10.
