Lane Ranger
Published: May 11, 2008

Dear Lane Ranger: In Woodbridge, Annapolis Way off of U.S. 1 is seeing new construction of three fifteen story condo buildings, as well as an existing bar, a marina and an office building. Annapolis Way off of Va. 123 has a hotel and the commuter lot entrance.

Please tell me that the Virginia Department of Transportation has plans to connect the two?

Being able to access Annapolis Way from both roads would help with congestion. Any VDOT plans?

Anonymous

Dear Anonymous: Yes, there are plans to connect those roads, according to Carlos Cecchi, vice president of IDI Group Companies, the firm building Rivergate.

The county and VDOT would be responsible for making the connection.

IDI's responsibility lies in building its own internal roads and extending the U.S. 1 side of Annapolis Way toward the new high rises. The developer will also pay the county some cash for transportation upgrades in the area, Cecchi said.

The Annapolis Way connection, however, isn't meant to relieve congestion as much as a planned interchange at Va. 123 and U.S.1.

The interchange would help traffic flow with clover leafs and grade-separated

roadways, so no signals would be needed.

Cecchi said he's looking forward to seeing that interchange built, along with a planning pedestrian bridge over U.S. 1.

That project, like many others, won't start soon, however, since available transportation money is being diverted to pay for maintenance.

As stated previously in this column, it's important for drivers who want to see upgrades on these roads to contact your state legislators before they embark on the next special session on transportation. That legislative session

isn't scheduled yet, but Gov. Timothy Kaine will be in Woodbridge on Tuesday to hear your comments.

He'll host a public hearing at 7 p.m. at the A.J. Ferlazzo Building at U.S. 1 and Cardinal Drive to hear some ideas on transportation funding.

It's recommended you take to him your concerns about this and any other projects you'd like to see occur in your lifetime.

Please send questions or comments on roads, rail and transit to: Lane Ranger, c/o Potomac News, P.O. Box 2470, Woodbridge, VA 22195; e-mail: .