VDOT completes improvements at Little River Turnpike/Guinea Road intersection
 |
| Little River Turnpike heading to Guinea Road. [VDOT] |
Navigating Little River Turnpike at the Guinea Road intersection in Annandale should be a little easier now that the Virginia Department of Transportation has completed improvements to enhance traffic flow and safety.
A new free-flow right-turn lane allows northbound Guinea Road drivers to proceed to eastbound Little River Turnpike without stopping at the traffic signal except when pedestrians are present. That should help relieve backups.
The project also included restriping to create a new through/right-turn lane on eastbound Little River Turnpike between Guinea Road and Old Hickory Road. That should make it easier for Guinea Road drivers to merge onto Little River Turnpike.
VDOT installed a pedestrian island at the southern end of the intersection with ramps meeting Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements and new pedestrian signage.
Work began in April using a combination of VDOT maintenance crews and existing on-call contracts. Final detail work will occur in the coming weeks with minimal impacts to traffic.
The total cost of the improvements, about $366,000, was funded by the state.
In this area, Little River Turnpike averages about 41,000 vehicles a day and Guinea Road averages 9,400.
I have driven past that intersection on Little River Turnpike a few times and I always see people stopped instead of just progressing on the right turn lane. One time I was behind two cars at that intersection trying to turn right on LRT…I honked to get the cars to drive and the lady in the car ahead of me got mad at me for my audacity.
I really wish the DMV driving test was remotely challenging…most people would fail and not get a license to drive…which would be a good thing.