A 10-foot-wide pedestrian walkway near Soapstone Drive on Sunrise Valley Drive is on track to open by Friday, according to the Fairfax County Department of Transportation.
It's the first completed segment of a project delayed more than two years to fill dangerous sidewalk gaps on one of Reston's busiest roads.
Construction on the $3.48 million walkway began April 30 after complications acquiring land from property owner JBG Smith pushed the start date back from 2024. FCDOT confirmed the Soapstone segment is on schedule.
The project covers the north side of Sunrise Valley Drive between Reston Parkway and Soapstone Drive, spanning approximately 1,490 linear feet across three segments. Its purpose: improve pedestrian and bicycle access to the Reston Town Center Metrorail Station.
FCDOT spokesperson Jennifer DeAngelis said the project will close gaps in the existing pedestrian facility, which she described as "not continuous." Safety improvements include ADA-compliant curb ramps, high-visibility crosswalks, a median refuge island at the unsignalized Indian Ridge Road crossing and new lighting and pedestrian signals at the Colts Neck Road intersection.
Why it took so long
The project was originally slated to begin construction in 2024. FCDOT needed land rights to a parcel on the Sheraton Reston Hotel property at 11810 Sunrise Valley Drive. JBG Smith initially declined to grant the requested rights but eventually gifted the small parcel to Fairfax County outright. FCDOT and its contractor received construction permits in November 2025.
Construction headaches for walkers
VDOT, which owns Sunrise Valley Drive, requires even temporarily installed sidewalks to meet ADA standards. That made pedestrian detours impossible in some stretches without removing trees, according to Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn. He said he is asking VDOT to review its guidelines for more flexibility in similar situations.
Sunrise Valley Drive lacks public pedestrian facilities on its south side except for a short stretch between Reston Parkway and Colts Neck Road, leaving walkers few options during active work.
What's next
The segment near Soapstone Drive extends about 260 feet west of the intersection. Construction on a separate stretch from the Exxon gas station's western driveway to Colts Neck Road is not scheduled to start until August 2026. All three segments are scheduled for completion by Monday, Nov. 30, 2026.
Residents with pedestrian safety concerns during construction can contact FCDOT at 703-877-5600.
