Congressman Gerry Connolly issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s visit to the Fairfax County Parkway this morning to view the ongoing construction and highlight the effect the stimulus package will have on these vital transportation projects.

“This is one of many examples of how the economic recovery plan will have a positive impact on our communities and our residents,” Connolly said. “Completion of this final segment for the Fairfax County Parkway will fulfill a vision that began more than 50 years ago to provide an alternate route for commuters and commerce to traverse Northern Virginia outside the Capital Beltway. This critical project is just one piece of a multi-billion dollar infrastructure investment that will create millions of jobs across America. I thank President Obama for his leadership in advancing this stimulus package, which will help modernize public transportation and bring new investments to our education, energy and water systems.”

The Fairfax County Parkway has been a priority of the County and the Commonwealth for more than two decades. The final segment of the Parkway is just beginning construction, and it will serve over 8,500 jobs at the National Geo-Spatial Agency, one of the most important national and international security agencies in the world.

Unfortunately, declining state and federal transportation revenues have meant that this final segment is only partially funded. The ramp and interchange improvements that were intended to serve dozens of small businesses and middle-class communities were eliminated from the project last year. The project needs a $70 million infusion to reach completion.

Social and economic impact from funding completion of Fairfax County Parkway:

• Would add or save hundreds of on-site construction jobs and up to 2,000 indirectly related jobs for the aggregate, equipment, fabrication and utility industries for the $70 million improvement.

• Improve direct interstate access for the small home improvement businesses just up the road as well as the big businesses like the nearby Federal Express facility.

• Protect existing neighborhoods from the increased traffic due to job growth and the changing road network.

• Serve a critical national security agency