Amy Freedman, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – The Virginia Department of Transportation plans to re-open the third lane on Route 50 eastbound between Stonecroft Boulevard and Route 28 in Chantilly, after last week’s closure resulted in major traffic delays especially during the morning rush.

Virginia Department of Transportation’s District Administrator for Northern Virginia Garrett Moore issued a statement apologizing to motorists for the lack of communication about the closure and also stated that the engineers would try and figure out a new way to proceed without closing a much needed lane of traffic.

The closure was part of the Route 50 project, which is intended not only to widen the road, but also to improve traffic signals, sidewalks, gutters, crosswalks and to provide a more level road with wider buffers between travel lanes and roadside hazards.

VDOT hopes that the reopening will take place, weather permitting, by Sunday March 5, in time for the beginning of next week’s rush hour.

Follow WTOPtraffic on Twitter.

(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)