🚀 go-pugleaf

If you are faced with the uncomfortably messy and dangerous interchange of
I-66 and Route 50 just west of Fairfax City, there's a new asphalt path that
connects Monument Drive and Random Hills Road in the Fair Lakes area (near
the Fairfax County Government Center) that lets you avoid the whole thing.
It's surrounded by construction at the moment, but it's so useful to me that
I thought everybody else ought to know about it.

If you're coming from the east, take a left onto Waples Mill Road, followed
by a right onto Random Hills. Just after the road narrows to two lanes,
there is a service road on the left. Follow it for about 60 feet and you'll
find a path to the left that goes through to Monument Drive, which crosses
I-66 without any of the merging mess that Rt. 50 has. To get back to Route
50, you can continue on Monument Drive to the Fairfax County Parkway and
turn right, or you can turn right at Fair Ridge Drive and take a left at the
light at 50 (wave hi to the VDOT guys when you get to the stoplight).

From the other direction, take a right from Rt. 50 at Fair Ridge Drive, then
a left at Monument. Continue on Monument across West Ox Road and past the
Government Center into the construction zone. About 3/4 of a mile past
Government Center Parkway, the road ends, but if you cross to the far side
(ie, go left), the asphalt path is somewhat hidden from view behind a mound
of earth. Be aware of a barrier crossing this end of the path, apparently to
prevent runoff. You'll need to lift your bike over it. When you get to
Random Hills Road, go right, and take a left at the stoplight on Waples Mill
to head over to Rt. 50.

This is a much safer route than following Rt. 50 through its miserable merge
with Fair Oaks Mall traffic and the awful intersection with I-66. Any other
alternatives would be great to hear of too!