More Richmond Highway buildings are scheduled for demolition in 2023

Following the November 2022 demolition of the Alexandria Motel, eight more buildings around the Richmond Highway corridor are tentatively scheduled for bulldozing this upcoming year.

Seven of the properties were acquired by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in preparation for the Richmond Highway Corridor Improvements project between Jeff Todd Way and Sherwood Hall Lane. The sites anticipated for demolition include a couple of residential buildings and a former convenience store, service station, pet boarding business and auto clinic. The auto clinic — Mount Vernon Auto Repair — has since relocated across the road to 8168 Richmond Highway.

Planned Demolition Sites for Richmond Highway Corridor Improvements Project (source: VDOT)

• 8851 Richmond Highway

• 8340 Richmond Highway

• 8249 Richmond Highway

• 8217 Martha Street

• 8122 Richmond Highway

• 8126 Richmond Highway

• 8010 Richmond Highway

The Woodlawn Kennel formerly operated out of this building at 8340 Richmond Highway.

According to VDOT, the first phase of construction from Jeff Todd Way to just north of Frye Road is fully funded, but the start date has slipped from mid-2025 to early 2027 due to several design and coordination issues. Those issues include additional analysis required to remove turn lanes and reduce the width of the roadway, replacement of the three-way intersection at Frye Road with a four-way intersection, and coordination for utility relocations.

The VDOT project team continues to pursue funding opportunities for phase two construction from just north of Frye Road to Sherwood Hall Lane. That phase currently is expected to kick off in late 2027. The entire project is now estimated to cost $464 million.

Meanwhile, according to the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT), a recently acquired, vacant residential property at 3101 Collard Street is awaiting demolition in preparation for construction of the Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. FCDOT is currently in the acquisition phase of the BRT project and is working on rough grading plans as part of the process for obtaining the demolition permit.

A vacant residential building on Collard Street, which is scheduled for demolition

More updates about the BRT project will become available following an executive committee meeting next week.