WASHINGTON – Opposition to a long-planned highway may be having an impact. Virginia’s governor says the state is rethinking strategy for the Bi-County Parkway.
The 10.4-mile highway, which would connect I-66 to Route 50 through Prince William County into Loudoun County, has been nothing but lines on a map for years.
But the availability of hundreds of millions of dollars in new state road money has put the project back on the front burner. The money came with the passage of a huge transportation bill by the General Assembly earlier this year.
Opposition to the parkway has grown after residents learned the current plans would close a major intersection through the Manassas National Battlefield Park.
Gov. Bob McDonnell says the public opposition to closing a major commuter route has been noted.
See the state’s location study for the parkway here.
“The concerns that I’ve heard have been about whether 29 or 234 will be closed before the project is finished,” McDonnell says.
Part of the plan is being revisited as the state moves through a series of public meetings, the governor confirms.
The route for the parkway has changed numerous times over the years. Here’s the latest one.
The ultimate plan is to shut traffic down through the battlefield, which will close what is now a major commuter route. The highway would also cross a corner of the battlefield park.
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