Supervisor Sharon Bulova (D-Braddock) had an ongoing joke in her family about a gift her sister once gave to their late mother. It was supposed to be a nice pedicure, but it turned out to be an exhausting medical experience.
Avoiding similar situations at the podiatrist is one topic seniors were able to brush up on at the Braddock District Winter Town Meeting, Wednesday, March 7, at the Little River Glen Senior Living Center. Bulova put on the meeting with a panel of experts who discussed various topics in order to ensure Braddock seniors have everything they need to stay safe and healthy.
Panelists presented information on brain health, heart care, fall prevention and foot care. Transportation officials also presented an overview of a major pedestrian improvement project that would benefit the seniors who live at Little River Glen, since the project affects an intersection they commonly walk through — Route 236 and Pickett Road.
“We want everyone to be safe pedestrians,” said Chris Wells, the pedestrian program manager in the county’s transportation department.
Construction on the project is scheduled to begin this spring. It includes the addition of four crosswalks, with signals, at each pedestrian approach to the intersection. Doug MacTavish, of the county’s transportation department, said it will be a serious construction project with a lot of detours and inconveniences in the process.
“The approach used to be to move cars,” said MacTavish. “Now, the construction effort will approach very seriously the pedestrian traffic.”
The project is part of a larger plan with the Virginia Department of Transportation that includes improvements at Guinea Road and Route 236, and Prosperity Avenue and Route 236. Eventually, the plan includes widening Route 236 into six lanes, he said.
Each year, Wells said that 10 to 20 pedestrian fatalities occur in Fairfax County. In a county with so much traffic, a broad range of issues remain to be solved, he said. In the mean time, seniors especially need to take the right precautions when crossing at intersections, including looking both ways, wearing bright or reflective clothing at night and making eye contact with drivers.
“Don’t believe a red light is going to stop a 3,000-pound car,” said MacTavish.
The county and VDOT will host a series of “pardon our dust” meetings as the project enters its construction phases. The pedestrian improvements should be finished by October 2008, according to VDOT officials.