Commuters who have been navigating construction zones along a nearly 7-mile stretch of Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) between Tysons and Reston in recent years now have something to cheer about.
The Virginia Department of Transportation announced May 1 that three travel lanes are now open in each direction on Route 7 between Reston Avenue and the Dulles Toll Road (Route 267). The completion of that work means a total of six travel lanes are available continuously for 20 miles between Leesburg and Tysons.
The new eastbound and westbound lanes on about 5 miles of Route 7 between Riva Ridge Drive and Jarrett Valley Drive are open to traffic three months ahead of schedule as part of the Route 7 Corridor Improvements Project, VDOT officials said.
The third eastbound and westbound lanes on nearly 2 miles of Route 7 between Reston Avenue and Riva Ridge Drive opened to traffic in 2022.
Bicyclists and pedestrians also now may use the new shared-use paths on both sides of the entire 7-mile stretch of Route 7 between Reston Avenue and Jarrett Valley Drive. Those paths tie into ones on Route 7 beyond the eastern and western limits of the project and provide a direct bicycle/pedestrian connection from the Fairfax County Parkway Trail to Tysons.
Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail users also now have a new route under the Difficult Run bridge to cross Route 7 safely, officials said.
The work-zone speed limit in the project area will remain at 45 mph into early May while crews remove temporary signs along the corridor. Once this work is complete, the speed limit between Reston Avenue and Wolftrap Run Road will be restored to 55 mph.
The improvements from Reston Avenue to Jarrett Valley Drive included:
• Widening Route 7 from four to six lanes.
• Improving access management at 19 intersections.
• Adding shared-use paths along both sides of Route 7.
• Replacing the bridge over Difficult Run.
• Reconstructing the Lewinsville Road intersection with the displaced left-turn lane from eastbound Route 7 to Lewinsville Road.
• Building a new pedestrian underpass at Colvin Run Mill Park.
Route 7 averages about 50,000 vehicles per day within the project limits, VDOT officials said. The $313.9 million project is financed with federal, state (including Smart Scale), Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and Fairfax County funding.
