Route 7 Corridor Improvements Project

The Route 7 Corridor Improvements Project addressed one of last major choke points on one of Northern Virginia’s few east-west commuting corridors connecting Loudoun and Fairfax counties to the Capital Beltway (I-495). While Route 7 had already been widened to six lanes for 13 miles west of the project and 2 miles to the east, this remaining 6.9-mile stretch of 4-lane roadway was a bottleneck, causing substantial congestion and travel delays into and out of Tysons Corner. 

The team’s primary goal was to widen Route 7 to six lanes and implement access management and operational improvements to reduce congestion, improve operations and enhance safety, including the region’s first Displaced Left Turn Intersection at Lewinsville Road. Additional scope included replacing the bridge at Difficult Run and raising the roadway to reduce flooding, as well as adding 10-foot-wide shared use paths (SUPs) and crosswalks at all signalized intersections to improve pedestrian safety and connectivity.

Connected Communities, Sustainable Solutions
Design optimizations in the project eliminated right-of-way impacts from more than 20 properties and reduced utility easements by 7.5 acres, saving over $1 million. Impacts to wetlands and streams were cut from more than 6 acres to less than one acre near Difficult Run and Colvin Run, where realignment incorporated articulated concrete blocks and baffles to quickly establish a stable, meandering channel. These improvements reduced travel times by over 25% and created a connected 14-mile SUP network, delivering long-term transportation, environmental and community benefits.

With more than 200 homeowners’ associations and 236 property acquisitions along the corridor, proactive outreach was critical. The team conducted more than 70 public meetings, resulting in community-driven modifications such as colored and textured concrete at development entrances and additional landscaping coordinated with neighborhood representatives. Long-standing collaboration between VDOT, Shirley and Dewberry spanning 18 previous design-build projects helped build trust. Monthly leadership meetings, weekly design coordination and “Hot Topics” forums ensured swift issue resolution, which enabled the project to finish three months early.

Design-Build Team

Photos

Photo Credits: CES Consulting LLC; Dewberry Engineers; Shirley Contracting