VDOT News - Northern Virginia

LEESBURG – Improvements along Battlefield Parkway at Route 7 (East Market Street) aimed at improving mobility and safety for bicyclists and pedestrians are now open, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Between Russell Branch Parkway/Trailview Boulevard and the Potomac Station Shopping Center entrance, bicyclists and pedestrians have a new ten-foot-wide shared-use path along northbound Battlefield Parkway, and pedestrians have a new five-foot-wide sidewalk along southbound Battlefield Parkway.

On the Battlefield Parkway bridge over Route 7, bicyclists and pedestrians also have crosswalks and Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS) at all four of the interchange ramps. Three new APS crossings have been added at the Battlefield Parkway and Russell Branch Parkway/Trailview Boulevard intersection, and upgraded APS crossings were installed along the southern end of the Battlefield Parkway and Fort Evans Road intersection. 

The opening of the bicycle and pedestrian improvements marks the end of the Route 7 at Battlefield Parkway project, which was completed ahead of schedule and under budget.

Ground was broken on the project in October 2019. In July 2020, the traffic signal at Route 7 and Battlefield Parkway was removed, with Battlefield Parkway closed for about 11 months to build the grade-separated interchange that aims to relieve congestion and improve safety. Also in July 2020, improvements, including new second left-turn lanes from southbound Battlefield Parkway to Fort Evans Road and from northbound River Creek Parkway to Fort Evans Road, were made to help move traffic during the detour.

In June of this year, the new interchange at Route 7 and Battlefield Parkway, including a new auxiliary lane on eastbound Route 7 from the Battlefield Parkway on-ramp to the River Creek Parkway/Crosstrail Boulevard off-ramp opened to traffic. Also, the traffic signal at Route 7 and Cardinal Park Drive was removed and the Route 7/Cardinal Park Drive intersection was converted to a permanent right-in/right-out configuration. 

Last month, a new auxiliary lane on eastbound Route 7 from Cardinal Park Drive to the Battlefield Parkway off-ramp opened to traffic.

The $77.3 million design-build project was financed with federal, state (including Revenue Sharing), Town of Leesburg, Loudoun County and Northern Virginia Transportation Authority funding.

The Route 7 and Battlefield Parkway intersection averages close to 100,000 vehicles a day based on 2019 data.

For the most recent updates and to learn more, visit the VDOT project webpage. 

Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians are reminded to use caution when traveling in active work zones. Be alert to new traffic patterns, limit distractions and follow detour route signage.  

You can get real-time traffic, work zone and incident information online at 511virginia.org, via the free mobile 511Virginia app, or by calling 511 in Virginia anywhere anytime.
                                   
Follow VDOT Northern Virginia on Twitter: @vadotnova

END

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.