Board agrees to ban trucks on Olin Drive

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution June 7 aimed at prohibiting truck traffic through the Lee Boulevard Heights neighborhood in Seven Corners.

The measure would add Olin Drive, a portion of Munson Hill Road, and Row Street to the RTAP (Residential Traffic Administration Program).

The problem started a couple of years ago when an aging bridge on Olin Drive over Holmes Run was replaced.

Previously, vehicles over 10 tons were prohibited on that bridge. But after it was repaired, VDOT eliminated the weight limitation – without notifying the public.

As a result, truck traffic began cutting through the neighborhood, including Safeway and Target trucks going between the Willston shopping center on Arlington Boulevard and Leesburg Pike.

Matthew Sage, president of the Lee Boulevard Heights Citizens Association, and community resident Lars Issa urged the supervisors to approve the measure.

Large trucks create safety hazards for children and pedestrians, as most streets in the neighborhood don’t have sidewalks, they said. The streets – just 19 feet wide – are too narrow to handle big trucks. One truck actually got stuck trying to make a tight turn from Munson Hill Road to Olin Drive.  

Alternate routes are available for trucks including Patrick Henry Drive, and Glen Carlin Road/Manchester Street, Sage noted.

The resolution approved by the board will be submitted to the Virginia Department of Transportation. VDOT will conduct an engineering study and will determine whether to implement a truck restriction.