Route 50 Interchange

The Route 50 Interchange is being rebuilt and improved as part of the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project. The new interchange design will:

Add Express Lanes access to and from the east
Construct new Route 50 bridges over I-66 to improve traffic flow and create room for future mass transit
Add noise wall along the ramp from I-66 West to Route 50 West
Build a shared-use path through the interchange connecting Random Hills Park and Fairfax Corner with Fairfax Farms Road and points to the east

Get a closer look at what’s planned through the Transform 66 Interactive Map.

New Route 50 Bridges Open

Route 50 has been shifted to new bridges carrying eastbound and westbound traffic over I-66. Work continues with upcoming operations to straighten Route 50 East approaching the bridge, and add ramps from Route 50 East to the eastbound Express Lanes and from the westbound Express Lanes to Route 50 West.

A shared-use path that will run between the northeast quadrant of the interchange (near Fairfax Farms Road) and the southwest quadrant (near Random Hills Park) using four short tunnels and sidewalk is also being constructed along Route 50 East.

Construction Update (Updated September 7, 2021)

Recent Construction Progress:

New Route 50 West bridge opened June 27, 2021
New Route 50 East bridge opened July 17, 2021
Temporary ramp from Route 50 West to I-66 West opened
Box culverts built for future shared-use path through interchange
Demolition of the old Route 50 West bridge was completed on July 16 (see Demolition Update below)
Demolition of the old Route 50 East bridge was completed on August 13

Upcoming Construction Activities:

Shift I-66 travel lanes to allow room for construction of Express Lanes and ramps
Construction of replacement and new noise walls
Construction of shared-use path through interchange
Express Lanes open late 2022

Demolition Update:

The old Route 50 West Bridge over I-66 has been demolished (completed July 16)
The old Route 50 East Bridge over I-66 has been demolished (completed August 13)
Find additional details here

The new Route 50 overpass is ready for concrete. (May 19, 2021)

New Route 50 bridges opened this summer. This photo shows remaining beams as the old Route 50 East was demolished in August. Several new stormwater basins have been constructed in the interchange. (August 24, 2021)

What Neighbors Can Expect

Noisy construction activities such as bridge demolition and pile driving will be avoided at night, when possible. Noise to expect at night includes back-up alarms on equipment and trucks, which is necessary to protect worker safety
Lighting of the construction work area will be directed to minimize light pollution for nearby residents
Project emails and website will be used to communicate major traffic switches or nighttime work

What Drivers Can Expect

Drivers should expect traffic shifts and temporary ramp closures as work progresses at the interchange. Sign up for project email updates to keep up to date.

Random Hills Park

Utility relocation near the Route 50 Interchange will require a 0.01-acre permanent utility easement on Random Hills Park. As required by federal regulation, VDOT is accepting public comment regarding the Fairfax County Park Authority’s preliminary concurrence with the Federal Highway Administration’s Section 4(f) applicability criteria for de minimis impact for this easement.

View the public notice and additional information using these links.

Timeline

Anticipated Schedule	Dates
Ramp and bridge work begins	Fall 2019
Various traffic shifts and temporary ramp closures for construction and demolition	2019 through 2022
New Route 50 bridges open to traffic	Late June/July 2021
Demolition of old bridges	Summer 2021
Express Lanes open	December 2022

Resources

Random Hills Park – Public Notice - PDF, 516KB

Random Hills Park - Preliminary Concurrence for de minimis Impact - PDF, 1.2MB

Random Hills Park Utility Relocation Alternatives Assessment - PDF, 1.7MB

Exhibit 1 - Random Hills Park Utility Reloc Exhibit 1 - PDF, 1.4MB

Route 50 Demolition Postcard - PDF 3.2MB

About the Project

Route 50 Interchange