Construction on a new roundabout at the intersection of Military Road and Nelly Custis Drive (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
Construction on a new roundabout at the intersection of Military Road and Nelly Custis Drive (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
Construction on a new roundabout at the intersection of Military Road and Nelly Custis Drive (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
Construction on a new roundabout at the intersection of Military Road and Nelly Custis Drive (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
Construction on a new roundabout at the intersection of Military Road and Nelly Custis Drive (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
Construction on a new roundabout at the intersection of Military Road and Nelly Custis Drive (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
Construction on a new roundabout at the intersection of Military Road and Nelly Custis Drive (staff photo by Dan Egitto)
Work on a permanent roundabout at the intersection of Military Road and Nelly Custis Drive is moving forward, but it won’t be finished for a couple years.
The project, which follows temporary changes to the intersection in 2021, will involve widening sidewalks, upgrading utilities and installing a rain garden at the center of the roundabout.
Sidewalk reconstruction is currently underway, closing a portion of Nelly Custis Drive. Road closures are expected to shift to Military Road at the south end of the project later this fall, county spokesperson Claudia Pors told ARLnow.
Construction is expected to last through late 2027.
“We thank the community for their patience as we work toward completion and encourage people traveling through the area to proceed with caution for the safety of crews and themselves,” Pors said.
The temporary roundabout on Military Road in 2021 (staff photo)
In October 2021, where there used to be a stop sign for traffic on northbound Military Road, the county added paint lines, bollards and raised temporary curbs, and partially demolished a median. The work was aimed at improving safety.
While preliminary data from the county found the roundabout did lower speeds, 53% of drivers, 27% of pedestrians and 26% of cyclists said they felt “less safe” or “much less safe” under the temporary change, per a summary of feedback in summer 2022.
Some drivers said they were confused about proper procedure in the intersection, while cyclists said drivers exhibited inconsistent behavior and would revert to habits they had when the intersection had a stop sign, per the report. Additionally, several users said the temporary materials caused visual challenges that contributed to the confusion.
About 31% of drivers, 26% of pedestrians and 18% of cyclists said they felt “safer” or “much safer,” the summary said.
Road users in this camp were also concerned about confusion, but “reported better yield rates by vehicles to pedestrians, slower vehicle speeds, and easier operations for traffic flow and left turns from Military to Military,” the report said.
A rendering of the planned roundabout at Military Road and Nelly Custis Drive (via Arlington County)
The project’s webpage promises higher rates of drivers yielding, shorter distances for people walking through the intersection and more predictable turning movements in addition to less speeding. When complete, the roundabout will include the following changes.
- Center and median islands in the intersection installed with landscaping and appropriate plantings
- A sloped apron around circumference of center island to encourage drivers to slow down, while still accommodating larger vehicles
- The removal of plastic pylons after other improvements are in place
- Painting these new features using colors that meet federal standards for structures in the roadway
