Yes this is absurd. The painted lines and traffic cones actually force the westbound traffic into each other. It appears to be temporary but has been like this for at least 6 weeks now. All they need to do is move the temporary barrels and paint a dashed merge area, there is plenty of room. Another VDOT botch job.

Dear Will,

This is not an issue that the City of Alexandria can correct, but a VDOT issue as the merge lanes are part of the interstate. The problem can be reported diredtly to VDOT by clicking onthe following link: http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/citizen.asp or by calling 800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623).

Thank you.

While I appreciate that this is in VDOT's jurisdiction rather than the City of Alexandria, has the City passed on its citizens' concerns to VDOT or merely washed its hands of the issue? After all, it will be city police and EMTs responding to the inevitable wreck.

This is truly a dangerous "merge" that should have a stop sign--it is very difficult for either lane to know that a vehicle is merging from the other lane because of the concrete barriers and the angle of merge.

The City of Alexandria's Department of Transportation and Environmental Services contacted and notified VDOT of our resident's traffic control concerns last month. We understand that the sidewalk closure is temporary and unavoidable because the work in this area is on the overhead structure (Telegraph Road Overpass).