Mt. Vernon Highway Trail Project

Updated January 11, 2019

The Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Trail Project will complete missing segments of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail between Richmond Highway (Route 1) and Southwood Drive. Fairfax County Department of Transportation is planning to construct a 10-foot shared-use path that will be approximately two miles in length. When complete, the trail will provide a continuous facility for pedestrians and cyclists along Mount Vernon Memorial Highway from Route 1 to the Mount Vernon Estates.

The project also includes construction of a pedestrian bridge adjacent to the Mount Vernon Memorial Highway bridge crossing Dogue Creek.  Marked crosswalks and curb ramps will also be added as part of the project. Check out the County’s project website for more information.

Latest Info

FCDOT held a community meeting in March 2018 collecting public comments on conceptual designs for the project.  A follow-up public meeting will be scheduled once environmental impact assessment is complete and more details designs are available.

FCDOT noted in early 2019 that once the last missing piece of Grist Mill trail along Mount Vernon Memorial Highway is constructed, Northern Virginia will have a continuous 60-mile long paved trail loop using the W&OD, Four Mile Run Trail, Mt Vernon Trail, Grist Mill Trail, Rt 1 Trail, Lorton Rd Trail, Route 123 Trail, Burke Center Parkway Trail, and Fairfax County Parkway Trail. The trail loop will pass through Reston, the Town of Vienna, the City of Falls Church, Arlington, Old Town Alexandria, Mt Vernon, Lorton, and Burke. There are many attractions along the trail, including George Washington’s Mount Vernon, Burke Lake Park, downtown Reston, historic Vienna and Falls Church, Old Town Alexandria, and Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve.

The missing trail is funded and in design and a top priority of the District representative. The completion timeline extends over the next three to four years because of impacts to Federal lands, private properties, historic buildings nearby, etc.