Two projects to impact traffic in Northern Virginia beginning Thursday

Virginia Department of Transportation crews will begin two road construction projects which will impact drivers, the first of which takes place Thursday.

VDOT will close the ramp from Chain Bridge Road to I-66 westbound for two years as crews work on upgrading the interchange for safety and compatibility with future express lanes on the interstate.

Drivers will need to become familiar with a new traffic pattern which involves using new turn lanes to turn left on to westbound I-66 from Chain Bridge Road.

Next weekend, crews will also begin repairs on a sinkhole underneath Rt. 50 eastbound near Fair Oaks Mall. All lanes will be shut down between April 26-28 to dig up and replace a ruptured stormwater pipe causing the depression.

The detour for the project includes taking West Ox Road to Monument Drive to Fairfax County Parkway and then I-66 back to Rt. 50 east.

VDOT officials say to navigate both projects drivers will need to pay attention and slow down.

"Look for the signage for barrels for cones for arrows in different directions and really with a changing area with as much construction as we're having if you can enter into these slowly you'll have the ability to ascertain what is going on as well as make the right decision in terms of our crews' safety," said Ellen Kamilakis, VDOT spokeswoman.