MEDIA ALERT: Opening Celebration for Columbia Pike Segments H & I

Published on November 10, 2022

The public and media are invited to join Arlington County in celebrating the completion of Segments H & I (from the Arlington County line to Four Mile Run Drive) of the Columbia Pike Multimodal Improvements Project. The ceremony will take place at The Pike sculpture located on the corner of Columbia Pike and South Jefferson Street.  

The event represents the culmination of two years of construction to improve the pedestrian, transit, and driver safety of the westernmost end of Columbia Pike. These improvements include widened sidewalks, durable concrete bus pads, upgraded streetlights and signals, and new trees.

The Multimodal Improvements Project also includes The Pike, a sculpture by artist Donald Lipski. The Pike explores how an object can be transformed into sculpture and its meaning changed through a whimsical combination of materials and location. Constructed from a reclaimed 50-foot-tall wind turbine wing, the artwork serves as a gateway into Arlington County from Bailey’s Crossroads in Fairfax County. The base of the sculpture is studded with thousands of coins from all over the world collected from Arlington County residents. This references the history of Columbia Pike as a toll road and celebrates its culturally rich neighborhoods.

The Columbia Pike Multimodal Improvements project is being performed in segments along Columbia Pike. Segment F (from South Wakefield Street to South Oakland Street) is currently under construction and is expected to reach substantial completion in 2025. Segment A (from South Orme Street to South Joyce Street) is a federal project to expand Arlington National Cemetery and will realign the Columbia Pike and South Joyce Street intersection as well as widen sidewalks and add a multi-use trail. Work on Segments C & D (from South Garfield Street to South Quinn Street) will begin in 2023.

Visit the Columbia Pike Multimodal Improvements Segment H & I project page to learn more. 

What

• Celebration of completion of Columbia Pike Multimodal Improvements Segment H & I

Who

• Dennis Leach: Director of Transportation, Arlington County
• Katie Cristol: Chair, Arlington County Board
• Monica Backmon: Chief Executive Officer, Northern Virginia Transportation Authority
• Donald Lipski: Artist, The Pike
• Adam Henderson: Columbia Pike Presidents Group

When

• Monday, November 14, 11:00 a.m.

Where

• The Pike Sculpture, Columbia Pike & South Jefferson Street
  • Accessible by Metrobus 16EG, Metrobus 25B, ART 45
  • Limited parking available nearby; carpooling or ridesharing recommended