This is one of five speed humps along this short stretch of Newington Road.
For years the residents along Newington Road in southern Fairfax County have complained about the speeding traffic and lack of sidewalks along this narrow, accident-prone road until finally the activism paid off. The result is a set of speed bumps that act as traffic calming measures, showing the power of citizen involvement in Fairfax County.
"Based on available options in our site visit, FCDOT is ready to propose four speed humps and one speed table along Newington Road," said Ryan O'Carroll from the Fairfax County Department of Transportation at the first community meeting on April 10, 2025. Diego Rodriguez Cabrera from Supervisor Dan Storck's (D-Mount Vernon) office attended the meeting as well.
It was late 2025 before the crews came out to lay asphalt and put up lighted signs, but the residents are happy for now even though they still think sidewalks are the way to go.
The transportation planners at the Fairfax County Department of Transportation and the Virginia Department of Transportation know this road is ripe for transportation and pedestrian improvements but it’s not that easy. The county staff report, dated Oct. 22, 2015, points out "poor sight distances, no pedestrian facilities, lanes that are too narrow," so the report from more than 10 years ago reflects the fact that work needs to be done.
"Fairfax County Department of Transportation staff recommends that planned transportation improvements for Newington Road, between Cinder Bed Road and Telegraph Road, not be removed from the Fairfax County Transportation Plan Map and Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan," but also notes that there are no solid plans and no funding available at that point.
Fast forward about 10 years, after countless meetings and multiple cars flipping over into the drainage ditches but now the speed bumps are there and the average speeds along this connector road are lower.
As with other neighborhood improvement projects, the neighbors involved created a website and laid out their wishes, followed by a petition signed by about 100 residents. "This page was developed by neighbors on and around Newington Road who want a safer, healthier, and more accessible community for everyone. It will be updated and maintained until Fairfax County builds a sidewalk on Newington Road," it said on the website, although there was no response to a recent email to the site creator. The humps and speed tables are not a sidewalk but a compromise.
In this same area where Cinder Bed Road hits Newington Road, there is currently an intersection improvement project going on, and this includes a traffic signal. Transportation planners are expecting this to be operational in the coming weeks.