The first of several planned improvements to the Route 7 Corridor is officially complete.
A third left-turn lane from westbound Route 7 to Baron Cameron Avenue opened to traffic on Monday (August 19) — the first of several traffic flow improvements planned between Reston Avenue and Jarrett Valley Drive.
The project includes other improvements like a third lane in each direction, shared-use paths on both sides, the replacement of a bridge over Difficult Run and a pedestrian underpass to access Colvin Run Mill Park.
The complete list of planned improvements is below:
Widening the road from four lanes to six lanes
Building continuous shared-use paths along eastbound and westbound Route 7
Raising the Difficult Run bridge above flood elevation
Shared-use trail under the Difficult Run bridge with minimum height clearance of twelve feet
Adding a pedestrian underpass at Colvin Run Mill Park for enhanced park access
Shifting Route 7 lanes away from Colvin Run Mill; enlarging culvert under Carpers Farm Way
Adding noise walls with architectural treatment (where reasonable/feasible per final analysis)
Adding stormwater ponds
Replacing/relocating the existing Lewinsville Road intersection with McLean Bible Church’s eastern entrance with a new displaced-left with two coordinated signals
At Towlston Road, shifting Route 7 away from Andrey Chapel Cemetery; adding right- and left-turn lanes on southbound Towlston Road
Widening Forestville Road to add southbound left- and right-turn lanes
Adding a third left-turn lane from westbound Route 7 to southbound Baron Cameron Avenue, as well as a free-flow ramp from northbound Baron Cameron Avenue to eastbound Route 7
Improving the approach angle from Utterback Store Road to Route 7
Lengthening left- and right-turn lanes from Route 7 to many side streets along the corridor; eliminating some median crossings for safety
Building new ADA-compliant sidewalk ramps
Officials estimate the project will be complete by 2024.
Until then, the speed limit along Route 7 has been reduced to 45 miles per house in active work zones between Reston Avenue and Delta Glen Court.
Photo via Virginia Department of Transportation
