News Summary
Major construction upgrades on Maple Avenue are focused on improving accessibility and traffic management to create a safer environment for all users. The project includes replacing brick crosswalks with stamped asphalt and enhancing signalization technology in the area. While construction may disrupt traffic, it aims to elevate public infrastructure. The Town of Vienna is committed to these developments, including the new Vienna-Carter Library and residential-commercial redevelopment at 444 Maple Avenue, enhancing community infrastructure and accessibility.
Major Construction Upgrades Underway on Maple Avenue in Vienna
Maple Avenue in Vienna has become the focus of significant construction efforts, aimed at enhancing accessibility and improving traffic management. Since mid-June, Sagres Construction has been at work, replacing the brick crosswalks and curb ramps at the intersections of Maple Avenue with East Street and Lawyers Road. These enhancements are crucial for bringing the intersections up to current standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Ongoing Work and Traffic Impact
As part of the improvements, new curb ramps at East Street have already been installed, while work continues at the Lawyers Road intersection. Construction crews have planned their schedules carefully; concrete work for the replacement of handicapped ramps is being carried out during the daytime hours, while the removal of brick crosswalks and asphalt restoration is taking place at night. This strategy minimizes disruption to the daily flow of traffic and aims to help local residents navigate the area safely.
The outdated brick crosswalks are being replaced with stamped asphalt that resembles the existing design at the Church Street and Mill Road intersection. However, commuters should prepare for partial lane and sidewalk closures that have resulted in traffic delays. All construction work on the curb ramps and crosswalks is scheduled to be completed by the end of July.
Signal Upgrades and Traffic Management
In addition to the crosswalk and ramp improvements, further upgrades on Maple Avenue include advancements in signalization technology along both the Maple and Nutley Street corridors. This signalization project, valued at $2.1 million, will introduce new traffic management software, communication devices, and video cameras for real-time traffic monitoring. These efforts were initiated following assessments conducted in December 2018, which identified the need for full replacements at some junctions if budget constraints would allow.
The Town of Vienna successfully secured funding for this signal project through a Virginia Department of Transportation SmartScale grant, coupled with a $170,000 contribution from Hekemian & Company. Construction for these signal upgrades kicked off in spring/summer 2024, with an anticipated completion date set for fall 2024. Visible enhancements will be especially evident at the Nutley/Tapawingo and Maple/Follin intersections, where signal rebuilds are nearing completion.
Future Developments and Library Construction
Looking ahead, the town is also planning to upgrade the signal at the Church Street and Beulah Road location, though work on this specific project has not yet commenced. Furthermore, construction for the much-anticipated new Vienna-Carter Library is set to begin next month, which will result in the closure of the Patrick Henry Library. The new library will boast a larger 19,000-square-foot design, complete with outdoor reading spaces and improved parking facilities, and is expected to be ready by early to mid-2027.
In another development, a chain-link fence at the 444 Maple Avenue site is approved to remain until the end of the year, coinciding with ongoing redevelopment activities. The planned redevelopment of 444 Maple Avenue will consist of 151 residential apartments situated above 20,000 square feet of commercial space, replacing the former Tequila Grande restaurant and Wolf Trap Hotel. Demolition of existing structures on the site has already commenced, and full construction is projected to begin in late spring or early summer, depending on the completion of the demolition process.
Hekemian & Co. has noted that various economic factors have delayed construction since the project’s council approval in October 2018. The continued efforts in the Maple Avenue area are part of a broader initiative to enhance the quality of life for residents and ensure improved access for all.
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Additional Resources
- FFX Now: Vienna Makes Progress on Signal Accessibility Upgrades Along Maple Avenue
- Google Search: signal accessibility upgrades
- Patch: Patrick Henry Library Sets Closing Date
- Encyclopedia Britannica: public library
- Tysons Reporter: Vienna’s Tequila Grande Demolished for Development
- Google Search: urban redevelopment
- FFX Now: Patrick Henry Library Staff Prepares for Move
- Wikipedia: Public Library
- FFX Now: Unique Vienna Condo Development
- Google News: condo development
