ARLINGTON, Va. - Just days after Virginia announced the state would move ahead with the I-95/I-395 HOT lanes project, Arlington County has dropped the lawsuit that has delayed the project for months.

Arlington County's new board chairman, Chris Zimmerman, has announced the county will withdraw the lawsuit, which challenged the environmental impact of the project.

"With the announcement last week by (Virginia Transportation) Secretary (Sean) Connaughton, it is clear that the County's objectives have been achieved and the lawsuit can be terminated," Zimmerman says in a released statement.

Virginia announced there will be a full environmental review of the project as it moves forward, but the state also said the lanes would stop at Edsall Road.

The decision to vacate the lawsuit could clear the way for the toll road to reach from Stafford County all the way to the District line, as well as connecting the HOT lanes to the western side of the Capital Beltway

A number of northern Virginia leaders had sharply criticized the county's decision to file the lawsuit.

Hank Silverberg contributed to this story.

(Copyright 2011 by WTOP. All rights reserved.)

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