The Virginia Department of Transportation is planning to add a second left-turn lane at the eastbound approach to the intersection of Route 7 and Georgetown Pike. The VDOT project will also widen a relatively short stretch of Route 7 to three lanes in each direction.

For many Route 7 commuters from Loudoun County, the intersection adds to a tough commute. Eastbound drivers trying to make a left onto Georgetown Pike overflow from the turn lane and plug up one of Route 7’s two main travel lanes, squeezing drivers into the remaining lane and slowing their trip toward Reston and Tysons Corner.

VDOT officials said the widening project would speed traffic along Route 7 and get rid of a hazardous blockage. "If they are not in the turn lane, and they are sticking out into traffic, that’s dangerous," VDOT spokesman Mike P. Salmon said. "We want to alleviate cars backing up onto Route 7, where cars are traveling at a relatively high rate of speed." Drivers also make risky U_turns at Reston Parkway to more easily get onto Georgetown Pike, he said.

Source: The Washington Post

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.