Route 7

Background

Increased highway and transit capacity in the Dulles Corridor is not enough.

Route 7 is a key link between Northern Virginia’s largest jurisdiction (Fairfax County) and third largest (Loudoun).  Route 7 is essential to improving access to Fairfax County’s major economic hub (Tysons) so that it might realize its economic and land use potential. It’s also essential to enabling Loudoun County to attract the workers it needs to achieve its economic goals.

It’s also a key homeland security evacuation route.

Loudoun County continues to make progress in converting its portion of Route 7 from Leesburg to the Fairfax County line to a limited access facility.

The same can also be said in Fairfax County between the Loudoun border and Tysons,

VDOT has just recently completed widening Route 7 from 4 to 6 lanes between Rolling Holly Way and Reston Avenue. Traffic in this highly congested section averages about 60,000 vehicles per day. By 2040 this number is projected to increase to nearly 90,000 vehicles per day.

And there’s more good news.

Current Status–Three Important Upgrades Moving Forward–

Tyco Road to Jarrett Drive

This improvement involves the replacement of the deck and addition of one lane in each direction to the Route 7 Bridge over the Dulles Toll Road. Silver Line support structures reportedly restrict the widening to one additional lane in each direction, but 14-foot bicycle-pedestrian trails will be provided in each direction.

Estimated cost: $45 million.

Current Status: Under construction.

Estimated completion date: May 2018

For more information click here

Jarrett Valley Drive to Reston Avenue

Traffic in this 6.5 mile section currently averages about 50,000 to 55,000 vehicles per day and is projected to increase to 75,000 to 90,000 by 2040.

At its June 2016 meeting the Commonwealth Transportation Board combined into one project what originally were two separate projects in this Route 7 segment. In doing so and by seeking to implement this project as a design-build the CTB is likely to reduce the original construction completion date by one year and the overall price by $60 million.

The following estimates are based on a design build contract being awarded.

Estimated cost: $240 million

Estimated construction start: Early 2018

Estimated completion date: June 2023

For more information click here

Route 7/Belmont Ridge Road (Route 659) Interchange

The project involves the conversion of this heavily used existing at-grade, signalized intersection to a grade separated interchange and reconstruction of approximately 1.4 miles of Belmont Ridge Road from two lanes to a four-lane divided section from the interchange to Gloucester Parkway. This major step in limiting Route 7 access is financed by a combination of local, state and federal dollars.

Status: Under construction:

Estimated Cost: $48.3 million

Estimated completion date: Summer of 2018

For more information click here.