Dulles Rail Construction to Become More Visible

So far, drivers have witnessed some of the utility relocation along sections of Routes 7 in Tysons Corner. But as early as next Friday, March 6, they'll experience the beginnings of a rapid increase in construction activity on the Dulles Rail project.

The traffic lanes of eastbound Route 7 in front of Pike 7 Plaza are going to be shifted to accommodate utility work in the right lane. This means the right lane will be closed and traffic shifted toward the median. To maintain three lanes eastbound, a new lane will be carved out of the median in the construction area, though a median will still exist to divide the eastbound and westbound traffic.

This new pattern will remain in place for about nine months.

The other, more familiar closures will continue along several sectoins of the service roads by eastbound and westbound Route 7 between Chain Bridge Road and the Dulles Toll Road, but drivers still have access to all the businesses along the road.

Virginia transportation officials are extremely confident that they very soon will receive final approval from the Federal Transit Administration, leading to full financing for the first phase of the project, taking Metrorail through Tysons and out to Wiehle Avenue along the Dulles Toll Road. (See a map here.)