Fairfax County Parkway Route 7100 Becomes Route 286

If you head west this weekend to the Fairfax County Parkway don't get confused.

Drivers may have noticed new signs along the Fairfax County Parkway in Reston.

Formerly known as Route 7100, the Fairfax County Parkway was transferred . The new signs indicate the change. 

A primary road is eligible for additional federal funding. This funding covers 80 percent of the road's maintenance costs and pays for improvements and other projects, VDOT said. 

"The Parkway is one of our main streets, and for years it has been neglected and overlooked," said Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, who spearheaded the change. Herrity's research found that federal stimulus monies can only be spent on primary roads, and Virginia spends more time and money on primary roads.

"For those two reasons alone, it made sense to change the Parkway’s classification in the state system so that it could receive the dollars and attention that it deserves," said Herrity. In September 2011 he asked the Board of Supervisors to formally ask the state to reclassify the Fairfax County Parkway and the Franconia-Springfield Parkway.

The Commonwealth Transportation Board also gave primary status to Franconia-Springfield Parkway (Route 7900) and Prince William Parkway (Route 3000).

• Franconia-Springfield Parkway: Route 7900 is now Route 289.
• Prince William Parkway: Route 3000 is now Route 294.

The signs will acknowledge old names as well as new for a year to allow drivers time to adjust to the change.