Streets and highways of Arlington County, Virginia facts for kids

Arlington County, Virginia, is a busy area right next to Washington, D.C. in the United States. This article will tell you all about the important roads and highways that help people get around this county.

Understanding Arlington's Roads

A highway sign on U.S. Route 1 pointing towards Rosslyn.

Arlington County has a special way of managing its roads. Unlike most other counties in Virginia, Arlington takes care of its own local roads. This means the county's own team, not the state's VDOT, handles most road maintenance. This unique setup started a long time ago, even before VDOT was created in 1927.

This special control helps Arlington's urban planners. They can work with builders to make sure new projects help pay for the roads needed in that area. In 2009, Arlington County maintained about 376 miles (605 km) of roads.

Even though Arlington's local streets don't follow a perfect grid plan (like a checkerboard pattern), they have a smart naming system. Streets are often named with numbers or letters in a sequence. This system helps people find addresses easily.

Major Interstate Highways

Interstate highways are big, important roads that connect states. Arlington County has two main ones.

Interstate 66 (I-66)

Interstate 66 goes through Arlington and has been a topic of discussion for a long time. When it was first planned in 1956, some groups worried about its impact. For example, the Arlington Coalition on Transportation (ACT) sued in 1971. They were concerned about air quality, noise, and how the highway might change neighborhoods.

After a court ruling stopped construction, a solution was found in 1976. The plan for I-66 was changed to make it smaller. It also included special lanes for carpools and a subway line in the middle.

Today, I-66 in Arlington has special rules during busy times. In the morning, cars going east need to have multiple people (HOV, or high-occupancy vehicle) or be motorcycles. In the evening, the same rule applies to cars going west. This helps reduce traffic jams. There's still a lot of talk about whether to make I-66 wider, but many local residents and the County Board are against it.

Interstate 395 (I-395)

Interstate 395, also called the Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway, cuts through Arlington. It was built during World War II to help people get to the Pentagon. It connects the 14th Street Bridge to Alexandria.

Years ago, a freight train track used to cross this highway at ground level. This caused traffic jams and even crashes. This was the only place where a train track crossed a major federal highway without a bridge or tunnel. The train line closed in 1968.

Now, I-395 often gets very crowded during rush hour. It has two special HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) lanes in the middle. These lanes are separated from the regular traffic by concrete barriers. They are used by carpools and express Metrobuses.

Proposed Interstates that Were Not Built

Sometimes, highways are planned but never built. Arlington had a few of these.

Interstate 595 (I-595)

Interstate 595 was a plan to improve U.S. 1 (Jefferson Davis Highway) in Crystal City. However, it was never built.

Interstate 266 (I-266)

Interstate 266 was planned as a loop from Interstate 66. It would have crossed the Potomac River on a new bridge between Arlington and Washington, D.C. This project was cancelled in 1972.

Main Arterial Roads

Arterial roads are major streets that carry a lot of traffic. Arlington's main arterial roads don't follow the county's usual street-naming system.

Here are some of the main north-south roads from east to west:

• US 1 (Jefferson Davis Highway)
• Walter Reed Drive
• Glebe Road
• George Mason Drive
• Carlin Springs Road

And here are some of the main east-west roads from north to south:

• Williamsburg Boulevard
• Yorktown Boulevard
• Lee Highway (U.S. Route 29)
• Wilson Boulevard
• U.S. Route 50 (Arlington Boulevard)
• State Route 244 (Columbia Pike)
• Four Mile Run Drive

Washington Boulevard is a unique main road because it runs both east-west and north-south. For most of Arlington, it goes east-west between Wilson Boulevard and Lee Highway. Then, it turns south to go around Fort Myer. After crossing US 50, it becomes State Route 27, which is a freeway. It then crosses SR 244 and connects with I-395. Finally, it turns northeast again, passes the Pentagon, and ends at the border with D.C.

Scenic Parkways

Arlington also has two scenic roads called parkways. These roads are like highways but are designed to be beautiful and are maintained by the U.S. National Park Service. They are also used by many people for commuting.

George Washington Memorial Parkway

The George Washington Memorial Parkway runs along the edge of Arlington County, right next to the Potomac River. It offers scenic views as it follows the river, connecting Arlington with Washington, D.C.

Spout Run Parkway

The Spout Run Parkway is a shorter road that branches off the George Washington Memorial Parkway. It helps drivers get to areas like Cherrydale, Lee Highway (U.S. Highway 29), and also connects indirectly to Interstate 66.

Bridges Connecting to D.C.

Several bridges connect Arlington County to Washington, D.C., across the Potomac River. These bridges are very important for travel between the two areas.

Here are the main bridges, listed from upstream (further north) to downstream (further south):

• The Chain Bridge (carrying State Route 123)
• The Francis Scott Key Bridge (carrying U.S. Route 29)
• The Theodore Roosevelt Bridge (carrying Interstate 66 and U.S. Route 50)
• The Arlington Memorial Bridge
• The 14th Street Bridge complex (carrying Interstate 395 and U.S. Route 1)