Boundary Channel Drive Interchange Project

  • Completion DateMay 30, 2024

Location

Interchange of Boundary Channel Drive, Interstate 395 and Long Bridge Drive, Arlington, VA 22202  View Map

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Status

Complete

Construction was completed in May of 2024.


About the Project

This project upgraded Boundary Channel Drive/I-395 interchange to improve traffic operations and safety for all users, and added a bike and pedestrian connection to Long Bridge Park Drive from the Humpback Bridge to Long Bridge Park.

Watch the Project Overview

Based on the feedback received at a June 2015 public meeting, and feedback received from VDOT and Pentagon staff, Arlington County leadership and FHWA staff selected the accepted concept which was analyzed in the approved Interchange Modification Report. The accepted concept provided the best balance of traffic operations and safety for all modes, while minimizing impacts to the Pentagon and future improvements to Long Bridge Drive and the future expansion of Long Bridge Park.

The final design called for converting the previous full cloverleaf interchange design to a partial cloverleaf configuration for the southbound I-395 ramps; the ramps in the southwest quadrant were removed and all movements to and from southbound I-395 were consolidated on the existing ramps in the northwest quadrant. In doing so, two interweaving segments along southbound I-395 in the vicinity of Boundary Channel Drive were eliminated.

Boundary Channel Drive was reduced from four lanes to two lanes and all ramp terminals along Boundary Channel Drive were converted to roundabouts. Bike and pedestrian upgrades provide an improved connection between Mount Vernon Trail to Long Bridge Drive and Long Bridge Park with shared use paths along both sides of Boundary Channel Drive through the interchange area.

This project was coordinated between the Federal Highway Administration, the Department of Defense, National Park Service, Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, the Virginia Department of Transportation and the District Department of Transportation.


Public Process

January 2021 - County Board Vote

The project's environmental review process concluded in October 2019 with the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) approval of the Interchange Modification Report and issuance of a Categorical Exclusion. On Jan. 23, 2021, the County Board voted unanimously to endorse the project’s major design elements.

November 2020 - Design Public Hearing

December 2019 - Public Information Meeting

County staff and partnering agencies shared and sought feedback on the accepted concept.

Presentation boards:

Community feedback:

 

June 2015 - Public Information Meeting

County staff and partnering agencies sought feedback on the elements that made up the original three design concepts to improve the interchange.

Subsequent project status updates were presented to the Arlington County Bicycle Advisory Committee and Crystal City BID (now National Landing BID) in January 2019 and September 2019, respectively.

 


Funding

The project was fully funded via a combination of local and state revenue sharing sources, regional funds from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority, and local bonds.