Road-widening project moving along in Triangle

Just about all that is left is scattered rubble and a bunch of “no trespassing” signs.

Almost all of the 40 fast food restaurants, automobile repair shops, used car lots and assorted dilapidated old buildings that once made up Triangle are gone.

The remaining Shell and Exxon gas stations, the 7-Eleven and the A&A Automotive buildings and two billboards will be demolished by the end of next month.

And what buildings will go up along U.S. 1 in their place?

None.

“This is for the road. We are not putting more [or different] businesses there,” said Pat Thomas, a Prince William County planner who heads up “Potomac Communities,” the county’s revitalization plan for U.S. 1.

The need to widen U.S. 1 from two to six lanes through Triangle was identified by the state more than 12 years ago.

When the county got tired of waiting for the state, it turned to its residents, who approved road bonds for the work through a referendum a few years ago.

The project has been moving along ever since.

The first part called for the acquisition of all 80 pieces of property in Triangle from Joplin Road to Bradys Hill at an estimated cost of $30 million.

“We are extremely pleased with the progress of the project, given the number and complexity of the properties involved,” said Tom Blaser, director of the county’s Department of Transportation.

With demolition almost complete, the next step is to move all the utilities underground. The estimated cost of that is about $10 million.

“This will eliminate the eyesore of all above-ground poles and wires,” Blaser said.

Since this work will be done outside of the right-of-way, lane closures will not be necessary.

The utility work should be complete by May and road construction — estimated to cost between $10 million and $12 million — should start next spring or summer, Blaser said.

“I think people are now seeing that this is not something that we are just talking about, dreaming about. We are doing what we need to do to make it happen. It is really real,” Thomas said.

Thomas reminded residents, however, that for the next couple of years they need to be patient.

“People need to give us some time,” she said. “We are taking the business down and then it becomes a construction site.”

County Supervisor Maureen Caddigan, R-Dumfries, said she has gotten plenty of positive feedback from residents, and she praised county staff for their work.

“I am very excited about this and very pleased,” she said.

To the few people who have expressed concern about losing their favorite fast food joints, Caddigan said she has told them to drive down the road to Dumfries to eat.

“I think this helps the town of Dumfries a lot,” Caddigan said. “It’s a boost for them.”

And while there will not be enough room for businesses at the side of the road once it’s been widened, the county does want to see companies return to the area.

“It’s behind the road that we want businesses to come in, that’s the area we want to redevelop,” Thomas said.

County planners are hoping to revitalize the area by creating the “Village of Triangle” within a roughly six-block area bordered by Old Triangle Road, Amidon Avenue, Squire Lane, Triangle Street, Post Street, and parts of Fuller Heights Road.

Thomas compares the county’s vision for the village to the town of Occoquan, with a mix of neighborhood commercial uses, small multi-family houses and single-family dwellings. While interest in the concept among the area’s residents has been low, Thomas said she hopes it will increase once road construction begins.

“In time, Triangle will become a premier community,” Caddigan said.

Staff writer Aileen M. Streng can be reached at 703-878-8010.