ALDIE, Virginia — While new road projects often aim to give commuters a new way to reach a destination, the construction of a short stretch of roadway will help tens of thousands of commuters avoid — or at least delay — travel on the already-congested U.S. 50 through Loudoun County.

Ground has been broken for construction of a missing segment of Tall Cedars Parkway, which runs parallel to U.S. 50, in the quickly growing eastern region of Loudoun County.

The four-lane segment, between Gum Spring Road and Pine Brook Road, will be less than a mile long, but will allow residents in Stone Ridge, Avonlea and South Riding to delay, or completely avoid, getting onto U.S. 50.

Loudoun County will pay for and build the stretch of roadway, then turn it over to the Virginia Department of Transportation for operation and maintenance. Total cost for construction is estimated at just over $13 million.

County officials expect the project will take 18 months, with the segment scheduled to open in the spring of 2018.