Fast Lane for Gainesville Work

The third phase of the project, now underway, will add two lanes in each direction on I-66 between the Route 234 Bypass and Route 29.

Route 29, in the final phase, will be raised 30 feet above the railroad tracks. The work will also widen Route 29 from four to six lanes between I-66 and Virginia Oaks Drive and include the construction of overpasses that will carry Gallerher Road over the railroad tracks and Linton Hall Road over Route 29.

One of the biggest impediments for the Gainesville project has been the cost of buying property around the interchange, which has grown increasingly expensive. The project will require the state to acquire 53 parcels, and small businesses and utility lines must be moved.

State officials said they were able to speed that process in part because the Federal Highway Administration recently authorized incentives for businesses and utility companies -- which have fuel and power lines that must moved -- to vacate property needed for construction, Homer said.

VDOT also got approval to begin acquiring land before completing design plans, which is normally required, state officials said.

"It's another example of how the longer you wait, the only thing that happens is the costs of projects increase," said Bob Chase, president of the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance, which has long supported the revamping of the interchange. "It's just critically important to improve that interchange. . . . It backs up traffic in the morning; it backs up traffic in the evening."

Prince William County Supervisor John D. Jenkins (D-Neabsco) said he is "very excited."

"We've been working on this project for a long time," he said.

"I'm the senior member of the board, being there some 26 years. I've seen this thing come and go and get where we thought we were going to make some progress and then get set back. Now it's actually a reality."