On October 3, 2002 the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) signed a Comprehensive Agreement with The Clark Construction Group, Inc. and its road and bridge construction subsidiary, Shirley Contracting Company, LLC to develop, design and build six high-capacity grade-separated interchanges on Route 28 in Fairfax and Loudoun Counties. Improvements to the corridor are vital to the continued economic development of the fast-growing area that is home to Dulles International Airport, AOL Time Warner Headquarters and the Smithsonian's new Air and Space Museum.

The agreement provided a combined commitment of $200 million in improvements to the Route 28 corridor over the next four years. Ultimate plans call for constructing a total of 10 interchanges and widening Route 28 from six to eight lanes between Route 7 and Interstate 66. The initial six interchange upgrades included Route 606, Route 625 and Sterling Boulevard in Loudoun County, and Air & Space Museum Parkway (formerly Barnsfield Road), Westfields Boulevard and McLearen Road in Fairfax County. Route 28 Corridor Improvements, LLC (the Clark/Shirley team) is responsible for right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation, site development, design and construction services.

As a result of the successful completion of the first six interchanges on time and on budget, VDOT awarded the Clark/Shirley Team a change order to construct an additional four interchanges in November 2006. The interchanges included Nokes Boulevard, Innovation Avenue, Frying Pan Road and Willard Road. These interchanges were opened to traffic by the end of 2009.
Additionally, the Route 28 project scope includes widening Route 28 to eight (8) lanes (as yet unfunded) and constructing secondary road improvements on Centreville Road (complete), Atlantic Boulevard (under construction), Loudoun County Parkway (complete), Davis Drive (complete) and two (2) sections of Pacific Boulevard (complete).

The project is being built under Virginia's Public-Private Transportation Act, which allows private entities to propose innovative solutions for designing, building, financing and operating transportation improvements. VDOT will contribute state highway funds, and revenue bonds backed by proceeds from the Route 28 Tax District will be utilized to finance the balance of the project. Landowners along Route 28 agreed to pay for improvements to the corridor in 1988 through a special tax district.

Loudoun County, Virginia is the second fastest growing county in the nation. More than 100,000 cars a day use the segment of Route 28 just north of the Dulles Toll Road. By 2012, transportation officials estimate that segment will carry 200,000 cars a day.