VDOT News - Northern Virginia

Update: The third Route 7 westbound lane between Riva Ridge Drive and Reston Avenue opened to traffic Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 12.

RESTON – Drivers along nearly two miles of eastbound Route 7 now have three travel lanes between Reston Avenue and Riva Ridge Drive, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

The new eastbound lane opened today ahead of schedule as part of the Route 7 Corridor Improvements Project. The third westbound lane between Riva Ridge Drive and Reston Avenue is set to open the week of Oct. 10, also ahead of schedule. 

The improvements are part of the ongoing work along Route 7 between Reston Avenue and Jarrett Valley Drive to enhance safety, decrease congestion, increase capacity, and expand mobility for all users as part of Fairfax County’s Comprehensive Plan.

Construction activities will continue throughout the project area, and lane closures will be in place during off-peak hours as crews relocate utilities, install stormwater management infrastructure, and build the additional improvements along Route 7 which include:

• 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
• Completing the reconstruction of the new 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.

The entire project is scheduled for completion in summer 2024.

Within the project limits, Route 7 averages 47,000 vehicles a day.

The $313.9 million project is financed with federal, state (including Smart Scale), Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and Fairfax County funding.

Follow VDOT Northern Virginia on Twitter: @vadotnova

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Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.