Expanded Hunter Mill Road bridge reopens after two years of construction

A critical vehicular link between Reston and the Wolf Trap area has been restored.

The new, two-lane Hunter Mill Road bridge over Colvin Run is now fully open, the Virginia Department of Transportation announced yesterday (Wednesday).

Located near Baron Cameron Avenue between Lake Fairfax Park and Colvin Run Park, the expanded bridge has one travel lane in each direction, saving drivers from the hassle and potential confusion of having to yield to oncoming traffic.

More on the project from VDOT:

The new bridge (located between the Dulles Toll Road and Baron Cameron Avenue):

• Improves traffic flow by replacing the nearly 50-year-old weight-restricted one-lane bridge that required drivers to stop if there was traffic crossing the bridge in the other direction
• Includes a median/splitter island separating the two lanes to improve safety

The Hunter Mill Road over Colvin Run Bridge Replacement project, which is now complete, also includes:

• An improved trail crossing south of the bridge
• Landscaping in the median/splitter island
• Abutments for a future trail bridge over Colvin Run (the rest of the trail bridge will be constructed by Fairfax County)

Construction on the project began approximately two years ago in August 2021. Built in 1974, the previous bridge had just one lane and was limited to carrying 10 tons at a time, even though the road was used, on average, by 8,500 vehicles per every day, as of 2019.

One lane of the new span was completed in December.

The project cost a total of $5.2 million, relying on funds from the federal, state and Fairfax County governments.

Hunter Mill Rd drivers don't need to yield to oncoming traffic at Colvin Run in #Vienna anymore – the two-lane bridge fully opened today! The now complete project also includes a raised median and an improved trail crossing south of the bridge.

Read more: https://t.co/N92AqLAo8P pic.twitter.com/yMjBU8R87H

— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) August 9, 2023