The George Washington Parkway, a scenic route and one of the busiest corridors in Northern Virginia is set to have a US$61 million renovation. The highway that hasn’t had any major work done in almost 60 years has several issues such as spreading gaps, widening cracks, and eroding drainage outfalls with some sections of the road deteriorating faster than they can be fixed is somewhat receiving this renovation as an emergency. The 25-mile route’s northern and busiest segment is scheduled to undergo a thorough facelift. The project will stretch 7.6 miles from Spout Run to Interstate 495, which is used by around 70,000 motorists every day.
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Before putting new asphalt, crews will dig the whole area. Roadside barriers, stone walls, and other traffic safety elements will be reconstructed. Improved storm drainage, a redesign of the Route 123 intersection in McLean, and upgrades to the entry and exit lanes are also part of the project. Historic views that have been obscured by overgrown vegetation will be restored as part of the project. New walkways and curbs, as well as a new asphalt covering in the parking spaces and ramps, will be installed at the two spectacular viewpoints on the northbound side.
Commentary on the George Washington Parkway
“This section of the parkway, which was finished in 1962, has never received extensive renovation,” according to Park Ranger Aaron LaRocca, “and, as a result of its age and heavy use, the roads, and drainage system have deteriorated significantly. The investment on one of the region’s most famous roadways follows the approval of a bipartisan congressional infrastructure spending bill that would pump major cash to fix roads and bridges across the country. The parkway project, on the other hand, is supported by a major conservation law approved last year, which provides millions of dollars for the upkeep of public lands and leisure.
