Big news! A timeline for the removal of the much despised Lexington Drive traffic light on Route 7 has made its way to The Burn.

Here is the Virginia Department of Transportation current plan for getting rid of the light.

September 23 — temporary electronic signage goes up announcing to drivers that Lexington will close on October 7.

September 26 and 27 — detour signs are installed. (They will remain covered until the detour commences.)

September 30 — remove the concrete median in front of Blue Mount Nursery’s entrance so cars on Lexington Drive can come in and out.

October 7 — weather permitting, close the Route 7 median at Lexington Drive and both legs of Lexington Drive with barrels and plastic barricades.

This is huge news for commuters who take Route 7. The goal has long been to remove all the traffic lights on Route 7 between Sterling and Leesburg. Overpasses have been built at Loudoun County Parkway, Ashburn Village Boulevard and Belmont Ridge Road. You should be able to drive from the Dulles Town Center mall to the outskirts of Leesburg without stopping.

Except for the intersection at Lexington Drive in Ashburn. The traffic light there causes huge backups during rush hours. Now it’s going away — and soon. October 7 can’t come soon enough.

Kudos to Broad Run Supervisor Ron Meyer who has been one of the key players in pushing for the Lexington Drive closure and negotiating with VDOT and others to speed up the timeline.