The long-awaited, full-cloverleaf interchange at Westfields Boulevard and Route 28 in Chantilly is almost ready for prime time. In fact, a ribbon-cutting ceremony is slated for Thursday, Oct. 6.
But first, some detours are necessary to allow workmen to finish their job. They'll run from Friday, Oct. 7, until Monday, Oct. 10, when the interchange officially opens to traffic.
"The current Route 28 west signal was put in as a detour while the work was being done," explained John Harmon, vice president of Shirley Contracting. "It's further north than the old signal was — which is where the bridge is now. And we can't build the loop ramps under the current detour intersection until that intersection is closed."
The $26.7 million project is one of several interchanges being constructed along Route 28 courtesy of a public/private partnership agreement between Shirley Contracting Corp. and The Clark Construction Group and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
IT CONSISTS OF a four-lane bridge of Westfields Boulevard traffic crossing Route 28, plus two auxiliary lanes, with a trail on one side and a sidewalk on the other. The bridge flies over Route 28, and drivers on both Westfields and Route 28 will be able to flow freely through that intersection without having to stop for a traffic signal.
Currently, it's difficult for people trying to reach their jobs in the Westfields Corporate Center. During the morning rush, there are big backups for drivers trying to turn left from northbound Route 28 onto Westfields Boulevard. And Sully Station residents have a tough time both leaving and returning to their homes because of all the traffic.
So having an interchange, instead of a stoplight there, will provide welcome relief. But that's after next weekend's detours.
"On Friday, Oct. 7, we'll come in after morning rush hour and switch traffic from the signal up to the bridge," said Harmon. "Then we'll remove the signal on Route 28 and close that detour."
Traffic on Route 28 won't change, except for being able to move without a signal there, and both eastbound and westbound traffic on Westfields Boulevard will be permanently diverted to the new bridge. Six of the four loops and four ramps associated with the project will be open to traffic, and overhead traffic signs will direct motorists.
The detours will enable work to begin on the two remaining loops. "We'll work 24 hours a day until these two loops are completed — which will take almost all weekend," said Harmon. "We're hoping by Monday morning [Oct. 10] rush, at the latest, to have these loops and the interchange 100 percent open to traffic."
Meanwhile, the two detours planned are as follows:
* Route 28 north traffic will not be able to turn west (left) on Westfields Boulevard. Instead, drivers will have to turn left onto Willard Road and make their way back. "Detour signage will help people end up in the right place," said Harmon. "Once the loop is finished, people will exit to the right and travel on the bridge, over Route 28, to Westfields."
* Motorists going west on Westfields to Route 28 south will instead have to turn left on Walney Road and take that to Route 28.
Since Oct. 10 is the Columbus Day holiday, traffic should be lighter for the Westfield Interchange's inaugural opening. But once normal traffic resumes the next day, said Harmon, "It should make a huge difference around here."