HomeMy Public PortalAboutTOL PR 2016-07-18 NVTA funding
Town of Leesburg
News Release
For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Betsy Arnett, Public Information Officer
barnett@leesburgva.gov 703-771-2734
NVTA Awards $20 Million in FY 2017 Funding to the Battlefield
Parkway and Route 7 Interchange Project in Leesburg
$13 million preliminary engineering study previously funded and underway.
Leesburg, VA (July 18, 2016) – Leesburg commuters can look forward to less congestion on
Route 7 in the future thanks to a $20 million allocation from the Northern Virginia
Transportation Authority (NVTA) towards the construction of a grade-separated interchange at
Battlefield Parkway and Route 7. Construction of the interchange will depend upon future
allocations of $25 million in construction funding. Currently, the Virginia Department of
Transportation estimates that construction will be completed in 2022.
In May, when the NVTA released its draft FY 2017 program, the Battlefield Parkway/Route 7
interchange project was not recommended for funding. The announcement came after
numerous public NVTA meetings at which Mayor Dave Butler and Vice Mayor Kelly Burk as well
as Loudoun County officials and a number of Leesburg residents spoke, highlighting the
intersection as one of Northern Virginia’s worst bottlenecks. Battlefield and Route 7 is the most
dangerous intersection in Leesburg and the last signalized intersection on Route 7 from Route
28 to Leesburg to be funded for transition to a grade-separated interchange. With over 85,000
vehicles passing through the intersection daily, the interchange is a key congestion reduction
project.
"This is a big victory for Leesburg,” commented Leesburg Mayor David Butler. “This award
means that we have well over half the funding needed for this interchange, and the project can
proceed on schedule, with construction planned to begin in 2019. With this project, the traffic
lights at Cardinal Park Dr as well as at Battlefield Parkway will be removed. I'd like to thank
Chairman Randall and Delegate Minchew, members of the NVTA, for their efforts (and votes) in
support of Leesburg. I'd also like to thank Supervisor Umstattd, Senator Wexton, Senator
Black, and the Town and County staffs, as without their considerable efforts, this project would
not have been considered. This project will substantially improve traffic flow into and out of
Leesburg, and has been a top priority of the Town Council."
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