A More Pedestrian-friendly Wilson Boulevard

Published on December 15, 2018

• $1 million contract with Sagres Construction Corp.


• Third phase of four-phase project begun in 2009


• Wider sidewalks, new streetlights, curb extensions and more planned

The Arlington County Board today approved a contract to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility along a segment of Wilson Boulevard, bordering the Ashton Heights and Ballston-Virginia Square neighborhoods.

"Wilson Boulevard is one of Arlington's most heavily used east-west arteries," Arlington CountyBoard Chair Katie Cristol said. "Making it safer and more accessible for pedestrians furthers our vision of Arlington as a walkable community for all residents."

The Board voted unanimously, in adopting the Consent Agenda, to approve a $1 million contract, including contingency, with Sagres Construction Corp. for Phase 3A of the Wilson Boulevard Streetscape Improvements Project, which is improving one of the County's most heavily traveled east-west arterial streets.

Project began in 2009

The County has completed two segments since the project began in 2009, improving pedestrian safety along a 1,600-foot stretch from N. Quincy Street to N. Monroe Street. The contract approved today by the Board will improve an additional 900 feet of Wilson Boulevard between N. Monroe Street and N. Kenmore Street. The project is being phased to limit the disruption caused by construction.

Improvements will include realigning the street, widening sidewalks, installing new streetlights and constructing curb extensions. An ADA-compliant crossing will be installed at the N. Kenmore Street intersection, along with a rapid flashing beacon to increase the visibility of the new crossing. Construction is expected to start in spring 2019, with completion anticipated in summer 2020.

This project is included in the County's adopted Fiscal Year 2019-2028 Capital Improvement Plan.

Remaking Wilson Boulevard

Improvements to Wilson Boulevard were identified in the Virginia Square Sector Plan, adopted by the County Board in 2002. The Sector Plan recommended improving the street's character and encouraging a more walkable community with safer, wider sidewalks that meet the latest design guidelines, and by installing sidewalk nubs to reduce crosswalk distances.

The Wilson Boulevard project is fulfilling the Sector Plan recommendations, which also include making the travel lanes more consistent by aligning the edges of the street curb. The project's final phase, which will improve the section between N. Kenmore Street and 10th Street N. and the 10th Street/N. Ivy Street intersection, is currently in the early design phase. It is being coordinated with a utility under-grounding project that will bury utility lines in this area. The final phase of the streetscape improvements will begin construction after completion of the utility under-grounding project.

For more information, visit the project page.

To read the staff report, visit the County website. Scroll to Item No. 14 on the agenda for the Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018 Regular County Board Meeting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AqmhEnjaXQ