October News on the Route 7 Corridor Improvements Project

Issue 41 | October 2022

Along about seven miles of Route 7, we're adding a third lane and shared-use paths in each direction, building a pedestrian underpass to access Colvin Run Mill Park, replacing and raising the bridge over Difficult Run, and making many intersection, bicycle and pedestrian improvements. Learn more.

Construction Updates

In September, crews continued construction activities along the corridor:

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

Continued noise barrier post installation and started setting panels along Route 7 westbound between Springvale Road and Great Passage Boulevard.
Installed noise barrier posts along Route 7 eastbound between Baron Cameron Avenue and Delta Glen Court, near Stokley Way, and between Laurel Hill Road and Jarrett Valley Drive.
Started setting noise barrier panels along Route 7 eastbound between Reston Parkway and Bishopsgate Way.
Placed asphalt along westbound Route 7 between Colvin Forest Drive and Baron Cameron Avenue.
Continued construction of the shared use path along Route 7 westbound between Colvin Forest Drive and Downey Drive.

Area 2: Baron Cameron Intersection

Shifted traffic on Route 7 eastbound to the north and continued reconstruction of the Baron Cameron Avenue intersection, including earth-moving activities and storm sewer installation.

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

Continued demolition of the remaining existing Difficult Run bridge.
Began construction of the foundations for the new Difficult Run bridge on westbound Route 7.
Continued storm sewer installation between the new pedestrian underpass at Colvin Run Mill Park and Difficult Run.

Area 4: Faulkner Drive to Jarrett Valley Drive

Began noise barrier post installation Route 7 westbound on the east side of Forestville Drive.
Installed noise barrier posts along Route 7 eastbound near Stokley Way and between Laurel Hill Road and Jarrett Valley Drive.
Completed noise barrier panel installation along Route 7 eastbound on the west side of Middleton Ridge Road.
Continued storm sewer installation between Newcombs Farm Road and Beulah Road.
Continued grading, placement of cement-treated aggregate, and base asphalt placement along eastbound Route 7 between Middleton Ridge Road and Beulah Road.
Continued storm sewer installation between Wolftrap Run Road and Lewinsville Road.
Continued earth-moving activities at the stormwater management pond between Wolftrap Run Road and McLean Bible Church.

Third-party utility design and relocation activities are also ongoing.

Click here to learn more about the design and construction schedule, environmental efforts, right of way, noise walls and other project details.

Click here to see additional September photos.

Work continues at Difficult Run as crews remove the old Route 7 bridge.

The third through-lane on eastbound Route 7 between Reston Avenue and Riva Ridge Drive opened to traffic in September.

In Case You Missed It

The new Lewinsville Road intersection has opened in an interim configuration. Additional improvements are ongoing in this area, including a longer turn lane from eastbound Route 7 to Lewinsville Road, and a longer acceleration lane from Lewinsville Road to westbound Route 7.

Construction activities continue along Route 7, and additional traffic shifts and temporary detours will occur along Route 7 during the fall and winter months. Please see the project website for information on upcoming lane shifts and other roadway impacts.

Click here for the latest updates on the Washington Gas work that is ongoing along Route 7. For more information on the Washington Gas work, please contact Jeff Hicks, jhicks@washgas.com.

Thanks for Giving Our Crews S P A C E

As a reminder, please refrain from walking through work areas with equipment, materials and ongoing construction activities, including the newly-paved shared-use paths along Route 7. If you have questions or concerns about the construction, please give our crews the space they need to work, and call or email us instead of approaching the work site.

connectroute7@vdot.virginia.gov

833-777-7411

Need to Know More?

You can check out photos and project progress on our website at connectroute7.org. Click News & Updates.

Planned lane closures for the following week are posted each Friday.

Don't forget you can get the latest on work zones, accidents and other incidents by visiting 511virginia.org, using the Virginia 511 app, or by calling 511 from any phone in Virginia. Visit the site or app to create and configure your account for alerts.

You can also check out updates for major incidents @511northernvirginia on Twitter.

Questions?

Visit: www.connectroute7.org

Email: connectroute7@vdot.virginia.gov

Call: 833-777-7411