Some changes could be coming to the section of King Street near the Bradlee Shopping Center, but they’re at least four or five years away.
The City of Alexandria announced today that it will start a King Street-Bradlee Safety and Mobility Enhancements Project later this month. The project will look at potential improvements to King Street just northwest of Quaker Lane along the Bradlee Shopping Center.
A release from the City of Alexandria noted that the area was previously identified as a priority location for ‘enhanced bicycle facilities’ — likely an extension of the bicycle lanes along King Street to the southeast — and more sidewalks. Along this stretch, there is no sidewalk on the northern side of King Street.
“The Alexandria Mobility Plan identified this corridor as a priority location to install enhanced bicycle facilities and additional sidewalks to complete critical gaps in the existing transportation network,” the release said. “Safety improvements will help the City reach its Vision Zero goal of eliminating all fatal and severe crashes.”
An online survey is set to launch on Wednesday, Sept. 20, to collect feedback from those who have walked, bike, driven or taken transit through the area.
This section of King Street sees significant pedestrian traffic from the nearby Minnie Howard and King Street campuses of Alexandria City High School. The nearby streets were a topic of concern during discussions about getting students back and forth between the two campuses — though a direct route from one school to the other wouldn’t touch the project area in question.
The project’s website said community engagement is set to kick off this fall, with design starting next spring and running through to spring 2027.