The widen in place option seems better than a redirection and taking Woodlawn Stables. There needs to be additional lanes at the new Costco.

I really think we need to consider the future in our decision to deal with Route 1. It was built in a time when low-rise, widely built stores were the norm, which today we know is wasteful of such valuable NoVA space. What will our community look like in 10 or 20 years? If we consider the road needs of our future, we probably need a much wider, much easier to navigate system of arterial roadways to get in and out of businesses on Route 1. I'm concerned that the wide in place is a bandage on our long term needs.

Instead of widening Route 1, add service roads that will come out at certain traffic lights along Route 1. We are going to have traffic and more traffic regardless of what is done. Route 1 is an alternative to 395. EVERYDAY!!! about 10AM, the Hybra Valley area backup begins (looks like rush hour) And don't let something happen on the north end of 395, get ready here comes the cars. And it doesn't help when people block the intersections either!!

Why is there never any mention that more than 170 historic graves will be reinterred by the "widen in place" option, that VDOT is in favor of the southern option and the land occupied by Woodlawn Stables is actually owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation which has come out in favor of the southern option?

Actually, it has been mentioned quite a bit, in many articles on the Patch and in other outlets. People aren't saying that they are in favor of having to reinter graves, just saying they are not in favor of the excessive destruction the bypass would create. Don't assume that because people disagree, that they don't have all the facts. The facts have been well reported, in the Patch and elsewhere.

Widen in place (do not disturb Woodlawn Stables). When construction is completed on 95/495 perhaps more drivers will use the major highway v. Route 1. Cosco offered to fix the area around their new store and pay all the costs. Which ever government agency was responsible for making these decisions completely dropped the ball. Now if any improvements are needed it's coming out of the taxpayer's pockets!

The southern bypass option seems to be the best option of the three because it causes the least damage to the historic properties especially the Woodlawn NHL, the Alexandria Friends Meeting House, and the Woodlawn Baptist Church Cemetery. The FHWA and the NTHP, which owns the land that currently is rented by the Woodlawn Stables, are working to find ways to build the southern bypass that will enable the stable operator to continue in business on the land. It seems a win-win for everyone who has an interest in this.

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for your comments. If you want to learn more about the Woodlawn Baptist Church and its fight to preserve its land, click the following link: http://mountvernon.patch.com/articles/church-fights-to-preserve-historic-cemetery

Jessie Biele, Local Editor

170 historic graves will be effected by the "widen in place" option

10:27 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Widen in place. It confounds me that the National
Historic Preservation Trust would vote not to preserve an historic area it owns. Plus, until the logjam where rt 1 meets 495/95 is improved, even a bypass won't help much. And whose idea was it to replace the Wilson bridge with another drawbridge? Is anyone thinking of the entire system or is each agency just thinking of its own patch?

And Save Woodlawn Stables for the throngs of young girls who came and spoke at the recent public meeting to save a small piece of their sport. In these days of school districts and colleges funding football, etc these girls ask for nothing. They muck stalls and clean stables for the love of their sport. Hat's off to them all for taking a stand and exercising their civic rights!