Frequently Asked Questions
Route 28 Bypass Project Goals and Timeline
PWC has several primary goals for the Route 28 Bypass project:
- Reduce traffic congestion and improve travel times
- Increase network reliability on the Route 28 corridor between the City of Manassas and Fairfax County
- Limit negative impact on residents and businesses in the community.
In September 2020, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors endorsed the Route 28 Bypass as the option to address traffic congestion along Route 28. The Department of Transportation will begin design and engineering on the bypass and will be moving forward with the current project location.
Our goal is to provide the public with the most up-to-date, accurate information and resources regarding the Bypass project and to gather community input and concerns throughout the process.
In an effort to reach the community & mitigate misinformation PWC DOT will:
- Hold accessible public information meetings in both Spanish & English
- Provide updates within the community (e.g., local gathering places)
- Provide updates through the Board of County Supervisors
- Publish project updates on the PWC DOT & Route 28 Bypass project website (route28bypass.com)
- Collect and respond to resident questions via Route28Bypass@pwcgov.org and info@route28bypass.com
- Continually update the FAQs online during the project timeline
There are typically four major phases of an infrastructure project:
- Plan and Study
- Design and Engineering
- Right of Way and Utilities, and
- Construction.
As of Fall 2020, we have completed the first phase, Plan and Study, and have begun to launch the second phase, Design and Engineering. During this phase, which will take approximately two years, we will release a Request for Proposal (RFP), select an engineering firm to complete the comprehensive design process, obtain permits from the US Army Corps of Engineers, and other regulatory agencies as needed, seek approval of the design by the PWC Board of County Supervisors.
The Route 28 Bypass project is expected to cost approximately $300 million.
- The NVTA has allocated $6 million to conduct numerous studies & reports in the beginning of the Planning Phase of the project and $89 million in regional funds to design and construct the bypass.
- Prince William County residents voted on and approved a Mobility Bond Referendum in November of 2019 (with a 73% approval rating) which will provide $200 million of funding to the project if authorized by the Board of County Supervisors.
The exact location of the Route 28 Bypass will be determined during the design and engineering phase, which is expected to be complete in 2023.
The current concept estimates that the Route 28 Bypass will extend the existing Route 28 in Prince William County between the City of Manassas and into Fairfax County. The approximately 3.5 mile road will begin as an extension of Godwin Drive, where it meets with Sudley Road. It will intersect with Lomond Drive and continue up to the Fairfax-PWC County border where it will then connect with Ordway Drive and tie-into existing Route 28 south of Compton Road.
You can view a map with the current concept here.
The exact impact and effect on businesses will not be determined until the end of the design and engineering phase, in 18-24 months. The current conceptual alignment shows that the Route 28 Bypass has no immediate and direct impacts to businesses along existing Route 28.
Design and Engineering Phase
The Request for Proposal (RFP) for the design phase has been released, and is available on the Prince William County Procurement site.
We plan to select an Engineering Firm in early-2021.
The Request for Proposal will describe and clarify the criteria for selection.
As with any construction project, many factors can impact the timeline. As of Fall 2020, we anticipate that the Construction Phase will begin in 2025. The PWC DOT will update the project timeline as the design and engineering phase progresses.
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors is required to review and approve the final engineering design for the Route 28 Bypass as part of a Public Hearing.
PWC DOT will submit permits for the Route 28 Bypass to the US Army Corps of Engineers once substantial design is completed. It is expected that results regarding the permits will be released in late-2022/early-2023. This permit is required to determine impacts to wetlands within the project area.
If the Army Corps of Engineers does not release the permit, the construction of the project along the current location cannot occur and will have to be reevaluated.
Yes, VDOT will have to approve certain design elements and permits as part of the project. VDOT will also be involved in the final design of the project. Once the project is completed, maintenance and ownership of the roadway will be handed over to VDOT.
Additional studies will be completed once an engineering firm is selected, as part of the Design and Engineering phase of this project. The analysis and findings from those studies will impact decisions made about the Route 28 bypass design. The findings will be published on route28bypass.com and shared in public meetings.
We are looking at FEMA guidelines and will consider all options to reduce the impacts of flooding as the Route 28 Bypass design moves forward which may include: relocating residents out of the flood zones and performing stream restoration to increase capacity.
Yes, the Route 28 Bypass will include a shared use path along the length of the new roadway. The project provides the opportunity to connect Ben Lomond Park to 234 and beyond to eventually connect with the Broad Run trail corridor at Innovation Park.
Housing and Residential Concerns
PWC DOT has begun the approximately 2-year Design and Engineering phase of the Route 28 Bypass Project, which will determine the exact location of the roadway. The PWC DOT will not know exactly which properties & residences will be impacted by the Bypass until the Design and Engineering phase is complete.
At the conclusion of the Design and Engineering phase, an official notification will be sent directly to impacted properties and residents. Residents who will be required to relocate will be entitled to Relocation Assistance and support from Prince William County. Negotiations that adhere to the Uniform Act, Section 4.2.3. of VDOTs Right of Manual of Instructions, are expected to occur throughout 2023.
Based on the Virginia Code and the Uniform Act, Section 4.2.3 of VDOTs Right of Manual of Instructions, PWC officials will begin the process to negotiate with property owners once the Board of County Supervisors has approved the final bypass design and the Right of Way impacts have been identified. The PWC DOT will notify and work with impacted property owners and residents throughout this process.
As the project continues, PWC DOT will regularly communicate and engage with the PWC community to make resources & information regarding the Route 28 Bypass easily accessible and understandable.
Information regarding the Right of Way process will also be posted on the Route 28 Bypass project website and provided during public Information Sessions.
Additional studies determining noise impacts will be conducted throughout the process. As studies are completed, they will be shared on the project website. The engineering firm will work to identify appropriate solutions, such as noise barriers, for the Bypass.
Regional Tie-In and Connections
The current concepts indicate that the Route 28 Bypass will connect to Route 28 utilizing part of Ordway Road and turning east to connect to existing Route 28 south of Compton Road and north of Bull Run.
However, until the Design and Engineering Phase is complete, we will not know the definitive location of the bypass.
PWC DOT will be consulting Fairfax County residents throughout the Design and Engineering Phase of the project and will provide property owners the opportunity to share input throughout the project. Prince William County in coordination with Fairfax County will host numerous information meetings to ensure that residents are aware of the latest developments. Materials from the most recent community information session can be found on the project website under Project Resources.
The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has not taken any action regarding this project. The current plans largely anticipate improvements in Fairfax County to remain primarily along the Ordway Road Corridor. Based on these plans, the northern portion of Ordway Road would remain a two-lane roadway. The project corridor and potential impacts identified on the southern portion of Ordway Road will be refined throughout the design process and will likely be significantly reduced.
The City of Manassas currently has an active project installing turn lanes at the intersection at Sudley Road and Godwin Drive, which will be finished by the time construction of the Bypass begins.