Final Parkway Paving Underway

As of last Sunday night, May 19, crews have begun the final milling and surface paving at the Fairfax County Parkway/Fair Lakes Parkway interchange project. Drivers can expect single-lane closures and detours onto Fair Lakes Circle, Sunday through Friday nights, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Crews started working on the Fair Lakes Parkway and will continue to the Fairfax County Parkway from Route 29 to Rugby Road. The paving is expected to take about eight weeks to complete.

The new $69.5 million interchange improves pedestrian and cycle access, widens more than 3 miles of the Fairfax County Parkway and improves traffic flow by separating local and Parkway traffic through this high-traffic area. The entire project is scheduled for completion this October.

Fairfax Farmers Market Is Open

The Fairfax farmers market is now open, Saturdays, from 8 a.m.-1 p.m., on the corner of Main and West streets, until October. Besides farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, handmade jewelry, crafts and other items are available for purchase.

Two Charged in Burglaries

City of Fairfax police have charged two people in connection with a series of six burglaries and three grand larcenies committed at city business establishments between May 20-22. Dennis J. Elliott, 27, of no fixed address, and Janna M. Harvey, 25, of 6739 Stonecutter Drive, Burke, were apprehended by police last Thursday, May 23.

Elliott had been identified as a suspect on the basis of information provided by Fairfax County Police, and city police officers were able to develop a description of the vehicle occupied by the pair. Elliott was also wanted for two outstanding probation violations.

As the result of investigation by the Criminal Investigations Division, Elliott was charged with burglaries of Modern Nails and

Spa at 10010 Main St. and Celebrity Nails at 11192 Lee Highway and with grand larceny at Modern Nails and Spa. He’s being held without bond at the county’s Adult Detention Center.

Elliott is also a suspect in burglaries at the Dong A Asian Market at 9590 Lee Hwy., Salon Simis at 10090 Main St., the Yen Cheng Restaurant at 9992 Main St., and Bijou Nails and Spa at 9935 Main St. Harvey was charged with conspiracy to commit burglary and released on bond.

As the result of a separate investigation by a patrol division officer, Elliott was charged, as well, with felony petit larceny, third and subsequent offense, for the May 13 theft of a wallet from an office at Lotte Plaza at 3250 Old Lee Hwy.

I-66/Route 286 Ramp Closings

The I-66 ramps to and from northbound Route 286 (the Fairfax County Parkway) will be closed overnight this week as crews continue final paving for the new Fair Lakes/Fairfax County Parkway interchange. Drivers should follow posted detours Thursday, May 30, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., and Friday, May 31, from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. Police will be on site for assistance.

Single-lane closures and detours onto Fair Lakes Circle are also in place Sunday-Friday nights, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., for the next eight weeks. Crews are working along Fair Lakes Parkway as well as the Fairfax County Parkway from Route 29 to Rugby Road.

The new $69.5 million interchange improves pedestrian and cycle access, widens more than three miles of the Fairfax County Parkway, and improves traffic flow by separating local and parkway traffic. The entire project is scheduled for completion this October.

Police Warn of Utility Scam

Fairfax County police have identified a trend in the number of victims reporting a scam involving utility payments. Police have received dozens of reports that someone is contacting residents claiming that their electric meter is broken and could even explode, if they don’t buy a payment card and pay up immediately.

The scammer tells residents they should go to a convenience store and buy a pre-payment card in the amount of several hundreds of dollars, or their power will be shut off. Many times, residents are frightened and feel intimated by the scammer.

While residents of all ethnicities have been victimized, police say recent targets appear to be Latino residents. Some live in apartments or multi-dwelling units. The scammer speaks in Spanish and several times has identified himself as “Jose Martinez.”

Police warn residents to contact Dominion Power or other utilities, as well as police, if they receive calls of this nature. They’re also advised to never provide their social security number, credit card number or banking information to anyone requesting it over the phone, unless they’ve initiated the contact with the caller.

Anyone receiving a call from someone claiming to be their utility company—and feeling pressured for immediate payment or personal information—should hang up and call the utility to report the incident.