On May 1st, 2026, a Groundbreaking Ceremony was held for the Route 7 & 690 Interchange Project to signify the project’s official kickoff. Representatives from Loudoun County, Shirley, Dewberry, other local officials, and the general public were in attendance.
The Project, located in Purcellville, Virginia, modifies the existing Route 690 (Hillsboro Road) overpass of the Route 7 Bypass to construct a grade-separated barbell-style interchange. Work consists of adding a new bridge over Route 7, roundabouts on either side of the bridge, acceleration/deceleration lanes at Route 7, and widening of Route 7 and its two bridges over Catoctin Creek. Project completion is scheduled for 2028.
Loudoun County broke ground on an interchange at VA 7 and VA 690 (Hillsboro Road) at a ceremony May 1, as construction crews worked nearby.
The project is meant to ease traffic congestion and take some pressure off VA 287 and downtown Purcellville, Catoctin Supervisor Caleb Kershner said at the groundbreaking. It will also create a more direct route to get north and northeast of VA 7, he added, and improve access to Woodgrove High School and Mountain View Elementary School.
“This project is about more than just building an interchange,” Kershner said. “It’s about making everyday life better for people who live and work here. By improving traffic flow, enhancing safety and planning for the future, we’re making a meaningful investment here in western Loudoun.”
A recent county project report puts its total budget at more than $64.5 million, paid for with a combination of local tax dollars, federal money, state money, regional funds, bonds and proffers.
The interchange had been a subject of debate between the county government, the town of Purcellville and the Catoctin Meadows Homeowners Association. The town had concerns about floodplain impacts on a parcel of land owned by the HOA and managed by Purcellville via easement. There were also concerns about having both eastbound and westbound ramps.
The town council voted to vacate its floodplain easement in early 2024, and the county Board of Supervisors voted later that year to take over the HOA parcel using eminent domain.
The county also plans improvements at the intersection of VA 287 (Berlin Turnpike) and VA 7.
Five members of the Purcellville Town Council, including Mayor Chris Bertaut, joined representatives from county government and the Virginia Department of Transportation at the groundbreaking.
Construction started at the end of March, according to a news release from the county. It’s slated to finish up in winter 2029.
“Loudoun County being one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation, it’s very hard to keep up with the growth; but Loudoun has done a phenomenal job in keeping up the transportation network in step with the growth,” Sunil Taori, the preliminary engineering manager for VDOT’s Northern Virginia District, said at the ceremony.
Article credit: Loudoun Times
