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Lee Chapel Road Project

FCDOT currently is reviewing feedback and comments from the June 11 meeting and subsequent survey. The project is currently working on the following tasks:

  • Tree survey and condition assessment
  • Continue environmental studies
  • Perform Phase II archaeological study based on the finding from Phase I study
  • Complete and submit pre-final (90%) plans for review this summer
  • Continue coordination with utility companies regarding impacts and potential relocations
  • Initiate land acquisition activities this winter

Project Information

Lee Chapel Road Image(Updated August 2025) Lee Chapel Road between Ox Road (Rt. 123) and Fairfax County Parkway is a minor arterial that is narrow, two-lane road with severe hills. Fairfax County is in the preliminary design phase of the project to remove the two vertical curves along a portion of Lee Chapel Road approximately between the bridge over South Run and the intersection of Pond Point Road. The project does not envision widening the road; the road will remain two lanes but will be brought up to current design standards. The proposed improvements will significantly improve roadway alignment and safety. 

The project is currently in the pre-final (90%) design phase.

Tentative Project Schedule (Updated May 2026):

  • 90% Design Completion – Early Summer 2026
  • Land Acquisition Begins – Winter 2026
  • Land Acquisition Completion – Winter 2027/Spring 2028  
  • Utility Relocation – Fall 2027 through Summer 2028
  • Construction Begins – Summer 2028

Community Meetings

FCDOT and Springfield Supervisor Pat Herrity held an online community meeting to provide a project status update on the Lee Chapel Road project on Thursday, June 11, 2026.

The feedback period for public comments closed on June 30, 2026.

  1. Fixing a road does not fix bad driving habits. Reckless driving behavior is resulting in tree removal and wasted funds.

    Fixing a road doesn't eliminate unsafe driving behavior, but roadway design plays an important role in reducing the consequences of driver mistakes. This improvement will make the roadway safer for all roadway users including those who may inadvertently make mistakes or face unforeseen conditions.
     
  2. Straightening out this roadway is just going to encourage drivers to go faster, making this even more dangerous.

    The existing roadway geometry does not meet current VDOT safety standards and has been associated with numerous vehicular crashes. Hence, this is a safety improvements project to address the inherent safety issues of the current substandard roadway geometry.
     
  3. Perfect solution so people can drive even faster. The problem isn't the road, it's the drivers.

    Driver behavior is a factor, but the current substandard roadway geometry has also contributed to numerous crashes. This safety improvement project addresses those inherent roadway issues to create a safer road for all users.
     

  4. My concern is the removal of the vertical hills will increase the overall speed of traffic on the roadway resulting in more traffic accidents. I live off of Route 123 in Lorton and there are far more terrible accidents there now than there were 25 to 30 years ago. The modifications will also remove the peaceful nature of the roadway and area. Slowing down to go through the area is a good reminder of the natural beauty of our surroundings.

    The project is being designed to improve safety because the existing roadway geometry does not meet current VDOT safety standards and has been associated with numerous vehicular crashes. While the proposed improvements will reduce the existing vertical hills and improve sight distance, the intent is not to encourage higher travel speeds but to provide a roadway that is safer and more forgiving for all users.

    To maintain the natural peace and beauty of the area, an environmental review and study are being conducted as applicable and environmental and Park Authority guidelines and requirements have been followed during design and will be followed during construction, including tree plantation and restoration of disturbed areas to the extent possible.

  5. What measures are being taken to maintain reduced speeds along the roadway? What measures are being taken to protect nearby homes and residents. What measures are being taken to maintain the natural peace and beauty of the area?

    FCDOT looked at alternative options and perform alternatives analyses in the preliminary design phase of the project to address speeding and safety concerns. Please note following:
     
  • Lee Chapel road doesn't qualify for speed humps due to the traffic volume and roadway classification. It's an urban minor arterial with about 15,000 vehicles a day.
  • Automated speed enforcement is also not permitted on this roadway under Virginia Code § 46.2-882.1, which limits the use of speed cameras to designated school and work zones.
  • Enforcement of the traffic is done by the police. One reason they may not do as much enforcement as they could is that there is no safe places for officers to monitor traffic or pull over vehicles, except near the bridge over South Run.
     

  1. The road should be closed but left open to South Run residents, as the road connects the two sides of South Run. There can be a sticker on the dashboard as other cities have done.

    The plan is to close Lee Chapel Road in between Viewcrest Drive and Pond Point Drive. There will be access for houses along Lee Chapel road; however, through traffic will be closed and detour options will be provided to avoid Lee Chapel during construction.

CommentResponse

This section of Lee Chapel is a highly used cut through at rush hour, in the morning and evening. Ideally, you would make the road two lanes in each direction for the entire section. However, making the northbound side two lanes and keeping the southbound lane as one lane would help alleviate the backups. Remember, you have to plan for the
future growth.

In regards to the detour, traffic is going to use Silverbrook Road and Hooes Roadroad either way. Unfortunately, it already takes 15 minutes to get from the Fairfax County Parkway to Silverbrook Road via Hooes Road in the evening because of the lights at Newington Forest and Silverbrook Road, and that's barely over a mile. Therefore, I hope you solve that problem first.

In order to take into consideration any traffic growth that might happen, we took into consideration the growth rate that was developed with VDOT based on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) regional travel model. This model considers factors such as population growth, land use changes, and planned transportation improvements throughout the region. The project also includes signal timing improvements in coordination with VDOT to help move the traffic as efficiently as possible through the corridor during construction when Lee Chapel Road is closed.

The current scope of the project is to address the inherent safety issues of the existing substandard roadway geometry without widening the roadway. Widening the roadway to 4 lanes, with 2 lanes in each direction is beyond the scope of this project.

My largest concern about this project is the traffic impact for the detour routes. I take Silverbrook Road to 123 North to Lee Chapel Road every day to commute to my job at Sangster Elementary and either drive home on the same route in reverse or take Fairfax County Parkway to Hooes Road At 8:30 a.m., Lee Chapel Road is often backed up at the light for the Parkway but the ride home is worse. Already the light from the parkway to turn left on Lee Chapel Road cannot hold the volume of traffic for one light cycle so the turn lane spills into the main lanes blocking through traffic from using the left lane and causing backups. I frequently sit through the light for multiple cycles. Holes road is no better. It gets so backed up that the lane to turn right also blocks traffic in the through lanes going to Pohick. Sometimes the light to turn right onto Hooes Road goes through and entire green cycle and no one is able to turn at all. I also have concerns about how this will impact school bus traffic to the South Run neighborhood and how altered bus routes will impact traffic overall. The concern about detour traffic was raised in the meeting recording which I watched but the response was not sufficient. "We believe it won't be an issue" isn't a solution. Based on current conditions there is going to be an issue. The study needs to be conducted during the school year and with the everyone returning to the office. 

The project includes signal timing improvements in coordination with VDOT to help move the traffic as efficiently as possible through the corridor during construction when Lee Chapel Road is closed. While, FCDOT recognizes the temporary inconvenience during its construction, it provides a safer roadway once construction is complete.

We will coordinate with schools as the design process moves forward.

In order to establish existing traffic conditions, traffic count data was collected at study area intersections in Spring 2024 when school was in session. Data was obtained for both AM and PM weekday time periods as well as a weekend Mid-day time period. Weekday AM and PM counts occurred on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. The weekend midday count occurred on Saturday, March 16, 2024. In order to take into consideration any future traffic growth, we took into consideration the growth rate that was developed with VDOT based on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) regional travel model. This model considers factors such as population growth, land use changes, and planned transportation improvements throughout the region.

The road is dangerous if you are speeding. Otherwise it poses no problems. Please do not use silverbrook Road as the alternative route. There is an elementary school right off of this road and Hooes road is already backed up every morning and afternoon. This should not be the alternative given the traffic already around this stretch.

The project is being designed to improve safety because the existing roadway geometry does not meet current VDOT safety standards and has been associated with numerous vehicular crashes. This improvement will make the roadway safer for all roadway users including those who may inadvertently make mistakes or face unforeseen conditions.

We have proposed two detour options, one is Silverbrook Road and Hooes Road, and another is Burke Lake Road. The project also includes signal timing improvements in coordination with VDOT to help move the traffic as efficiently as possible through the corridor during construction when Lee Chapel Road is closed. Based on the traffic condition and origin and destination either detour route can be used.

FCDOT and Springfield Supervisor Pat Herrity held a virtual community information meeting on the Lee Chapel Road project on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, at 7 p.m., to present proposed design plans, construction detours and timelines, and to obtain community feedback on the project. 

The feedback period for public comments closed on Jan. 10, 2025.

Project Resources

Lee Chapel Road Project Limits

Lee Chapel Road Map

 

Questions? Comments?

Contact the project team.


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