Bypass Proposal

• Propose alternative routes for existing commuter and other through traffic that is currently traversing the Manassas National Battlefield Park (MNBP) on US Route 29 and Virginia Route 234.
• Enable the MNBP to maintain the roads within the Battlefield for use by Park visitors and the families residing within the MNBP, without inconveniencing area residents and businesses.
• Alleviate the existing traffic congestion within and in the vicinity of the Battlefield.
• Ensure the proposed alternative routes will be more convenient for the majority of vehicle operators than the present Routes 29 and 234 within the MNBP.
• Promote and support the existing businesses and commercial interests in the vicinity of the Battlefield.

• The unique character of the MNBP resides in the degree that it has preserved the historic appearance of its landscape, enabling visitors to visualize the battles on the very ground where they occurred. The existing heavy through traffic within the Battlefield poses an intrusive distraction to Park visitors, irrevocably degrading this irreplaceable resource.
• The present utilization of Routes 29 and 234 within the MNBP (with reduced and often ignored speed limits) represents a compromise between the needs of through traffic, and the desirability of encouraging visitors to explore the Park at their leisure. This failed compromise slows and frustrates the local traffic (especially commuters), while discouraging tourists from spending the additional time required to fully appreciate the Battlefield. Our present inability to effectively market our most valuable regional tourist attraction is especially detrimental to our local hospitality industry.
• The existing Routes 29 and 234 within the Battlefield are inadequate to handle the current local traffic, and a solution to the resulting gridlock must be found. Widening the existing Routes 29 and 234 within the Battlefield is not an acceptable option. Therefore, alternative routes that provide more direct and more convenient access for local residents should be sought outside the MNBP.
• The additional multiple lanes required to effectively conduct Route 29 traffic around the MNBP should be constructed separate to and parallel to I-66, and not just added onto I-66. Hazmat, vehicular fire or serious injury accidents could shut down all of the lanes of I-66, and a multi-lane alternative route would then be invaluable.
• Limited access design of the alternative routes would be inappropriate since these bypasses should exist for the convenience of local traffic.

US 29 MNBP BYPASS

At a point west of the MNBP, US 29 would be diverted south along the western boundary of the MNBP on the present Pageland Lane right-of-way, and continue south onto the present VA 234 Bypass. At the intersection with Balls Ford Road, US 29 would turn east and follow Balls Ford Road through its present terminus near the south bank of Bull Run, cross Bull Run, proceed north to join and proceed along the Bull Run Post Office Road right-of-way, and finally rejoin the present US 29 east of the MNBP at its intersection with the Bull Run Post Office Road.

Required Construction:

• Extend the four-lane VA 234 Bypass from its present northern terminus at I-66 north along the western boundary of the MNBP to intersect with US 29 at the present Pageland Lane intersection.
• Construct a four-lane highway along the existing two-lane Balls Ford Road from its intersection with VA 234 Bypass through its eastern terminus in Gateway Park to Bull Run.
• Construct a bridge across Bull Run to accommodate the US 29 MNBP bypass just south of the existing I-66 bridge.
• Construct a four-lane highway north from Bull Run to and along the existing Bull Run Post Office Road, to rejoin the existing US 29.
• Construct an overpass over I-66 (the present Bull Run Post Office Road overpass would be inadequate).
• Note that an additional interchange with I-66 would not be required.

• Obtain the right-of-way needed to extend the four-lane VA 234 Bypass from I-66 to US 29 along the western boundary of MNBP.
• Obtain the right-of-way needed to widen the existing two-lane Balls Ford Road to accommodate the four-lane US 29 MNBP Bypass from VA 234 Bypass to its eastern terminus, then continue through Gateway and Mayhew Parks to Bull Run.
• Note that the property on the south bank of Bull Run at the proposed US 29 MNBP Bypass crossing is owned by Prince William County, and the north bank property is owned by Fairfax County.
• Obtain the right-of-way needed to accommodate the four-lane US 29 MNBP Bypass from Bull Run at the western boundary of the Bull Run Regional Park north to proceed along the existing two-lane Bull Run Post Office Road to its present intersection with US 29.

VIRGINIA ROUTE 234 MNBP BYPASS

From a point north of the MNBP on the existing VA 234 at the intersection with Pageland Lane, divert VA 234 south onto the existing Pageland Lane where it would join the extended VA 234 Bypass at the intersection with US 29.

Required Construction:

• Improve the existing Pageland Lane from Catharpin to its intersection with US 29 to a fully developed two-lane highway (four lane construction would neither be necessary nor desirable if area zoning restrictions are maintained).
• The VA 234 MNBP Bypass would join the proposed US 29 MNBP Bypass between the intersection of Pageland and US 29 and the present terminus of VA 234 Bypass at I-66.

No additional right-of-way would be required if the proposed two-lane leg of VA 234 MNBP Bypass follows the existing Pageland Lane, and shares the four-lane VA 234 Bypass extension with the proposed US 29 MNBP Bypass.

SUMMARY

• Dramatically reducing traffic within the MNBP would greatly enhance the Battlefield's historical validity and its value as a regional resource.
• These proposed US 29 and VA 234 bypasses would effectively induce area traffic to avoid traversing the Battlefield by offering more direct and more convenient routes, whether or not the National Park Service ever closes the MNBP to through traffic.
• Overall area traffic congestion in the vicinity of the MNBP would be alleviated.
• A four lane emergency alternative route to I-66 would be made available between Gainesville and Centreville.
• The US 29 MNBP Bypass will service the commercial interests along Balls Ford Road, and provide ready access to the business community on Sudley Road south of the MNBP.
• The VA 234 MNBP Bypass will provide the most direct connection possible to the existing VA 234 Bypass, while improving access to both I-66 and US 29.
• The local hospitality industry and retail outlets would benefit from the tourists who would spend more time at the Battlefield.

ADDENDUM A:

Continued large scale commercial and residential development north and west of the MNBP will ultimately defeat the purpose of the proposed bypasses by placing an increasing demand on all area roads, including the routes through the Battlefield. Precedence warns us that development and increased demand occur before adequate roads are completed, and the MNBP cannot restrict use of Park roads until the bypasses are available. The National Park Service goal of maintaining the roads within the MNBP for use by Park visitors and the families residing within the Park would inevitably be thwarted by the resultant increasing demand to exploit every available roadway for commuter traffic.

ADDENDUM B:

The Friends do not believe that either of these conduits could serve as viable or acceptable bypasses for the MNBP. Of these two proposals, only the Dulles Connector could serve as a VA 234 bypass, while it would be necessary to construct both corridors with an east-west connector just north of the Battlefield to provide a US 29 bypass. The construction of these corridors to bypass the MNBP would wrap the Battlefield in multi-lane highways, introduce commercial and residential development on the very borders of the Park, and irrevocably degrade the historical integrity we are dedicated to preserve.

The Friends do recognize the need for an additional north-south corridor that would service Dulles and other commercial interests to our north. Of the two proposals, we strongly support adopting only the Tri-County Parkway since it would not be a detriment to the Battlefield. It may even be worth considering the possibility of a single bridge and a shared right-of-way along the Bull Run Post Office Road serving both our proposed US 29 MNBP Bypass and the Tri-County Parkway.

Finally, these north-south corridors are ambitious and costly projects, and there does not appear to be money available for either proposal now. The MNBP bypasses we are proposing are much more affordable, and traffic congestion in the vicinity of the Battlefield needs to be addressed NOW. For all of the above reasons, we urge our proposed bypasses be considered and adopted independent of other proposals.