Fairfax County’s Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail Pedestrian Improvement Project at Wiehle Avenue has been named an honorable mention for the 2026 American Public Works Association (APWA) Mid-Atlantic Chapter Project of the Year Award. The project was recognized in the Transportation, $5 million to $25 million category.
The project provided a new bicycle and pedestrian bridge that carries the W&OD Trail over Wiehle Avenue, removing a busy at-grade crossing on a four-lane road that carries about 24,000 vehicles a day. The bridge improves safety for people walking and biking and for drivers using Wiehle Avenue and improves walking and biking access to the Wiehle-Reston East Metrorail Station.
The project is a shining example of the coordination between the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) and Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) for managing the design and construction of projects that promote active transportation, improve pedestrian and bicycling safety, reduce dependence on driving and improve accessible connections to transit alternatives.
“While transportation projects can be complex, this recognition by APWA really highlights the extraordinary collaboration that exists within team Fairfax to complete complex projects that serve our community,” said FCDOT Director Gregg Steverson.
“We are proud to deliver another high-quality capital project for the people of Fairfax County to make our community safer and more sustainable," added Director of the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services Chris Herrington.
The 147-foot-long, 16-foot-wide steel bridge serves both the asphalt and gravel paths of the trail. The project also:
- Added 10-foot-wide sidewalks on both sides of Wiehle Avenue
- Widened roadway for future installation of bike lanes
- Upgraded curb ramps to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act
- Improved the traffic signal at Wiehle Avenue and Sunset Hills Road
The project cost $9.97 million and was funded with federal and state grants as a Virginia Department of Transportation locally administered project.
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