Road Diets

Road Diet Basic Design

According to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), a classic road diet typically involves converting an existing four-lane, undivided roadway to a three-lane roadway consisting of two through lanes and a center, two-way left-turn lane and bike lanes or paved shoulders.

Road Diet

The resulting benefits of the 4-3 conversion include an average crash reduction of 19% to 47%, reduced vehicle speed differential, improved mobility and access by all road users and integration of the roadway into surrounding land uses that results in an enhanced quality of life. View the Road Diets: A Proven Safety Countermeasure video. 

A key feature of a road diet is that it allows reclaimed space to be allocated for other uses, such as turn lanes, bus lanes, pedestrian refuge islands, bike lanes, sidewalks, bus shelters, parking or landscaping.

View additional road diet resources and examples:

Upcoming Road Diet Project: Polo Parkway Road Diet

In partnership with and at the request of the county, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will be restriping Polo Parkway to include a bike lane following resurfacing work planned for early summer. View the draft feasibility study (PDF) and the draft concept (PDF).