S. Glebe Road

S. Glebe Road
Name	S. Glebe Road
Alternate name	Route 120 (partial)
Length mi	2.8
Location	Arlington County, Virginia
Termini	South Terminus: Arlington/Fairfax County border near Shirley Highway; North Terminus: Arlington near Potomac Yard
Maintenance	Virginia Department of Transportation
Notable junctions	I-395, US 1, Arlington county routes

S. Glebe Road is a principal arterial in Arlington County, Virginia that connects southern Arlington with central urban corridors and links to regional routes serving the District of Columbia and Alexandria. The road carries mixed commuter, commercial, and freight traffic, and intersects major regional highways and transit nodes associated with commuter flows toward Rosslyn, Ballston, and Crystal City. The corridor has undergone incremental upgrades associated with planning by Virginia Department of Transportation, Arlington County Board, and regional agencies such as the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority.

Route description

S. Glebe Road begins near the Arlington–Fairfax County boundary adjacent to I-395 and proceeds northward as a four- to six-lane urban arterial paralleling the Potomac River corridor toward the Braddock Road interchange and the GW Parkway approaches. Traveling past intersections with US 1 and local connectors, the road provides direct access to ramps serving I-395 and frontage roads used by traffic bound for Pentagon City and Crystal City. Along its alignment the roadway interfaces with municipal facilities such as Arlington National Cemetery-adjacent arteries and commercial centers serving commuters from Alexandria, Fairfax County, and the District of Columbia. The corridor crosses several neighborhood boundaries including Shirley Gardens-adjacent blocks and approaches the northern urban fringe near Potomac Yard and the Wilkes Street (Alexandria) corridor.

History

The corridor that became S. Glebe Road traces colonial and early American-era wagon routes connecting plantations and river landings along the Potomac River with inland settlements such as Alexandria and early precincts that later formed Arlington County, Virginia. During the 19th century the route served rural traffic linking sites like Hollin Hall and properties that later became part of Fort Myer and Arlington National Cemetery approaches. In the 20th century, expansion of highway networks including the creation of US 1 and construction of I-395 altered traffic patterns, prompting widening projects undertaken by Virginia Department of Transportation in coordination with the Arlington County Board and regional planning entities such as the National Capital Planning Commission. Postwar suburbanization linked S. Glebe Road to commuter flows to the Pentagon and Reagan National Airport, while 21st-century redevelopment in Crystal City and Potomac Yard spurred multimodal upgrades and streetscape improvements.

Major intersections

The corridor intersects a series of regional and local routes that serve as key nodes: - Southern terminus area: connections to ramps for I-395 and access to US 1 toward Alexandria and the District of Columbia. - Mid-corridor: junctions with county arterials providing access to Shirley Highway approaches, links to Columbia Pike, and connections toward Fort Myer and Arlington National Cemetery. - Northern approaches: intersections near Crystal City and Potomac Yard with feeder streets that serve Reagan National Airport ground transportation and links to Route 1 (Alexandria).

Transportation and transit

S. Glebe Road functions as a multimodal spine served by bus routes operated by Metrobus, Arlington Transit, and commuter services coordinated with Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority planning. Proximity to Metrorail stations such as Pentagon, Braddock Road, and Crystal City positions the corridor as a first/last-mile connector for riders accessing Blue Line and Yellow Line services. Bicycle infrastructure initiatives coordinated with the Arlington County Transportation Division and regional groups like the Washington Area Bicyclist Association have introduced protected lanes and shared-use paths along segments to improve access to Mount Vernon Trail and local trailheads. Freight movements use S. Glebe Road for deliveries to commercial centers including retail near Pentagon City Mall and logistics for redevelopment projects at Potomac Yard.

Landmarks and adjacent neighborhoods

Adjacent landmarks and neighborhoods along the corridor include Pentagon City, Crystal City, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Long Branch Nature Center vicinity, as well as historical sites linked to Hollin Hall and antebellum-era properties. Commercial anchors such as Pentagon City Mall, hospitality venues oriented to Reagan National Airport travelers, and office complexes serving tenants from Department of Defense contractors are concentrated near major intersections. Residential neighborhoods including sections of Shirley Gardens and transitional blocks approaching Potomac Yard border the right-of-way and participate in local planning dialogues with the Arlington County Civic Federation.

Future plans and improvements

Planned projects affecting the corridor have been advanced by Virginia Department of Transportation, Arlington County Board, and the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority to improve safety, transit priority, and pedestrian facilities. Proposals include intersection reengineering near ramp junctions to I-395 and signal optimization coordinated with Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority service changes, expansion of bicycle facilities aligning with Move Arlington initiatives, and streetscape investments tied to redevelopment in Crystal City and Potomac Yard. Long-range scenarios evaluated by regional planners at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments consider S. Glebe Road’s role in reducing congestion on US 1 and enhancing multimodal access to Reagan National Airport and federal installations such as the Pentagon.

Category:Streets in Arlington County, Virginia