VDOT schedules design public hearing for portion of Route 7 in Frederick County

STAUNTON — The Virginia Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing concerning improvements to a portion of Route 7 (Berryville Pike) in Frederick County. The meeting will take place from Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, from 4 to 6 p.m., at Millbrook High School, 251 First Woods Drive, Winchester, VA 22603.

Citizens can come in during the meeting hours and discuss the project on a one-on-one basis with VDOT officials and designers. Written comments can be submitted at the meeting or within 10 days after the meeting date to Ms. Tracey Bowman, Project Manager. Virginia Department of Transportation, 811 Commerce Road, Staunton, VA 24401-9029. Oral comments can be recorded at the meeting with the assistance of a court reporter.

This project is designed to improve safety and traffic flow on Route 7 (Berryville Pike) by addressing increasing traffic volumes on Route 7 and reducing conflict points. This is in the area of Millbrook Drive and First Woods Drive.

Motorist and pedestrian safety can be affected by highway conflict points, such as intersections. Higher traffic volumes can make previously well-functioning intersections experience lengthy delays and crashes. Improvements can be achieved by maximizing existing infrastructure.

Redesigning two Route 7 intersections will create fundamental traffic pattern changes resulting in fewer delays and potentially fewer crashes.

On Route 815 (Blossom Drive) at Route 7, a raised median will be installed at this intersection restricting Route 815 northbound through traffic. Only left and right turns onto Route 7 will be permitted for northbound Route 815 traffic.

On Millbrook Drive at Route 7, a raised median will be installed at this intersection, restricting Millbrook Drive southbound through traffic. Only left and right turns onto Route 7 will be permitted for southbound Millbrook Drive traffic.

As a result of these changes there will be no through traffic between Route 815 and Millbrook Drive crossing Route 7.

Route 815 (Blossom Drive) and Millwood Drive will receive milling and new pavement between Cardinal Lane extending 0.05-mile north of Route 7.

Changes on Route 7 include closing the westbound left-turn lane at Route 815/Millbrook Drive, and closing the Route 7 eastbound left-turn lane near First Woods Drive. The project also provides an additional left-turn lane on Route 7 westbound at First Wood Drive with waiting traffic storage of 355 feet and taper of 200 feet.

These changes will allow shorter signal timing at both intersections and less delay on Route 7.

In 2017 Route 7 had an average daily traffic volume of 27,331 vehicles per day. By the design year of 2047, the estimated average daily traffic volume is 40,778 vehicles per day.

This project was applied for as a SMART Scale application as a result of a Strategically Targeted and Affordable Roadway Solutions (STARS) study.

The VDOT Staunton District serves Frederick, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge, Alleghany and Bath counties.

The VDOT Staunton District is on Facebook and Twitter. Follow VDOT statewide accounts on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube. The VDOT web page is www.VirginiaDOT.org.