Route 7 Corridor project remains on track for 2024 completion

Although the pandemic wreaked havoc on supply chains and labor demands, the state’s massive improvement project along the Route 7 Corridor remains on track.

The $313.9 million project will improve seven miles of Route 7 between Reston Avenue and Jarrett Valley Drive is on schedule. Crews are working to widen the road from four to six lanes and add a shared-use path on both sides.

The project was not significantly impacted by staffing challenges and supply chain issues, a spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Transportation told Reston Now.

Kathleen Leonard, a spokesperson for VDOT, said that the design-to-build project team was able to take advantage of light traffic counts in 2012 to extend land closure hours and maintain progress throughout the pandemic.

But traffic patterns and a race-track environment are likely to remain for a little over two years.

Leonard says the project is 57 percent complete and on track for completion by July 31, 2024.

VDOT provided the following updates on the most recent work on the project:

Area 1: Reston Avenue to Colvin Forest Drive (Except Baron Cameron Avenue Intersection)

Area 1 West: Reston Avenue to Baron Cameron Avenue:

• Completed drilling for noise barrier foundations west of Reston Parkway along eastbound Route 7. 
• Storm sewer installation west of Baron Cameron Avenue continued.

Area 1 East: Baron Cameron Avenue to Carpers Farm Way:

• Continued post installation for the noise barrier wall along westbound Route 7 between Colvin Run Road (east) and Colvin Run Road (west).
• Storm sewer installation between Baron Cameron Avenue and Colvin Forest Drive continued.

Area 2: Baron Cameron Intersection

• Continued earth-moving activities at the intersection of Route 7 and Baron Cameron Avenue.

Area 3: Difficult Run Area (Colvin Forest Drive to Faulkner Drive)

• Continued construction of the retaining wall between eastbound Route 7 and the Colvin Run stream channel.
• Construction of foundations for the piers and western abutment of the eastbound Route 7 bridge over Difficult Run continued.
• Completed storm sewer installation for Stage 2 between Difficult Run and Serenity Woods Lane.

Area 4: Faulkner Drive to Jarrett Valley Drive

• Completed storm sewer installation for Stage 3A between Serenity Woods Lane and Middleton Ridge Road.  
• Installed underdrain, curb, and placed base and intermediate asphalt for Stage 2 between Towlston Road and Lewinsville Road. 
• Placed base and intermediate asphalt between Lyons Street and Towlston Road.  
• Completed the jack and bore storm sewer pipe crossing underneath Route 7 between Middleton Ridge Road and Newcombs Farm Road.  
• Earth-moving activities for Stage 3B commenced between Lewinsville Road and Jarrett Valley Drive.
• Began installing storm sewer for the service road between McLean Bible Church and Laurel Hill Road. 

Image via VDOT