A project designed to make a dangerous intersection at the “gateway” to the city of Manassas Park safer is set to begin Monday.

The Virginia Department of Transportation will modify the Route 28 intersection at Old Centreville Road/Blooms Quarry Road, eliminating most left turns that are currently allowed at the intersection.

Motorists will still be able to turn left onto Blooms Quarry Lane from southbound Rt. 28, at the Prince William County/Manassas Park line, according to the VDOT project's design plan. The southbound Rt. 28 dual left-turn lanes to eastbound Manassas Drive will be lengthened by modifying the existing raised concrete median.

Cost for the project is about $230,000 for construction, and Arthur Construction Co. is  the contractor. The project is expected to be completed in mid-October.

The improvements are designed to eliminate conflicting traffic movements and improve safety, according to information about the project on VDOT's website.  

A study conducted by VDOT revealed at least eight ways a crash could occurr at the intersection in its current design, where there is no traffic light.

In addition, the crash study found a total of eight crashes with injuries did occur in the immediate intersection from January 2005 to December of 2007. There were 16 reported incidents without injuries during the same time period in that area.

On May 27, police said a drunk driver crashed into the Manassas Park welcome sign at the intersection.

The project was updated from "proposed" to "under construction" after the public hearing process ended.