Funding approved for Braddock Road improvements

Braddock Road approaching Port Royal Road.

The Braddock Road Multimodal Improvement Project will get more than $55 million through a VDOT program called Smart Scale, Braddock Supervisor James Walkinshaw announced in the August Braddock Beacon. 

The funds, approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, will cover Phase 1 of the project.

The project, launched in 2014, is aimed at reducing congestion on Braddock Road between Guinea Road and Ravensworth Road by adjusting traffic patterns at intersections. Bike and pedestrian paths will be added along both sides of the road. Braddock Road will not be widened. 

Related story: Public comment sought on revised plan for Braddock Road improvements

Previous attempts to secure funding were not successful in the Smart Scale analysis, which ranks projects based on the amount of congestion reduced for the lowest cost. The scope of the project was scaled back last year to improve its chance for approval. This time, other higher-ranked projects dropped out, so the Braddock Road project made the cut.

VDOT is expected to present its design plans to the community by the end of the year.