Update: Road Closures Due to Flooding

Update: 3:15 p.m.

Loudoun County authorities have re-opened Route 15 at Goose Creek as it appears area streams have begun to recede. A portion of Route 621 (Evergreen Mills Road) at Goose Creek now appears that it will remain open. As of 3:15 p.m. the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is reporting the following roadways closed or restricted to access due to flooding or high water:

• Tranquility Rd/Lickey Mill Rd.
• Downey Mill Rd. Near Taylorstown Rd. & Stoneburner Mill Lane- Closed
• Ketoctin Church Road (bridge)- Closed
• Edgegrove Road ¼ miles past Shannondale- Closed
• Short Hill Road at Silverbrook
• Appalachian Trail Road (bridge)
• Alder School Road (bridge)
• Hollow Oak Road
• Snakehill Road at Foxcroft Road- Closed
• Blackoak Rd. south of Snickersville Tpk.- Closed
• Snickersville Tpk./Yellow Schoolhouse Rd.- Closed
• Clover Hill Road/First St. (Waterford)- Closed
• Hampton Road at Catoctin Creek (Purcellville)- Closed
• Rt. 15/Little River- Closed
• Turneysville Rd at Harper’s Ferry Rd.- Closed
• Branchriver Rd. at Harper’s Ferry Rd.- Closed
• Route 606 at Greenway is down to one lane due to high water
• Lincoln Road at Forest Mill Rd.- Closed
• Crooked Bridge Lane- Closed
• Lime Kiln Road (Several Points West of Route 15)- Closed
• Watson Road at Evergreen Mills Road- Closed
• Lime Kiln Road at Steptoe Hill Road
• Aldie Dam Road south of Route 50- Closed
• John Mosby Hwy./ at Champe Ford Road- Closed
• Dutchman Creek Road just north of the bridge near Irish Corner Rd. - Restricted

Motorists should attempt to use primary roads on their commutes home as many secondary roads are susceptible to flooding. Many secondary roadways remain impassable and the Loudoun Sheriff’s Office reminds motorists that if you find yourself driving in potential flash flood conditions, never drive through standing water on a roadway. Water may be much deeper than you think causing your car to stall or even get stuck in hidden debris.

For the latest Loudoun County traffic news and information, subscribe to Loudoun County Traffic

Road Closures Caused by Rainfall and Flooding

Update: 2:15 p.m.

Loudoun County public safety authorities are estimating that a portion of Route 621 (Evergreen Mills Road) at Goose Creek will be closed in the next few hours as water levels continue to rise.

As of 2:15 p.m. the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is reporting the following roadways closed or restricted to access due to flooding or high water:

• Route 15 at Goose Creek Bridge (Northbound Traffic is being diverted onto Route 50 and Southbound traffic is diverted onto Route 7, 621 and 704)
• Ketoctin Church Road (bridge)- Closed
• Edgegrove Road ¼ miles past Shannondale- Closed
• Route 15 at Harmony Church Road
• Short Hill Road at Silverbrook
• Appalachian Trail Road (bridge)
• Alder School Road (bridge)
• Hollow Oak Road
• Snakehill Road at Foxcroft Road- Closed
• Blackoak Rd. south of Snickersville Tpk.- Closed
• Snickersville Tpk./Yellow Schoolhouse Rd.- Closed
• Clover Hill Road/First St. (Waterford)- Closed
• Hampton Road at Catoctin Creek (Purcellville)- Closed
• Rt. 15/Little River- Closed
• Turneysville Rd at Harper’s Ferry Rd.- Closed
• Branchriver Rd. at Harper’s Ferry Rd.- Closed
• Route 606 at Greenway is down to one lane due to high water
• Lincoln Road at Forest Mill Rd.- Closed
• Crooked Bridge Lane- Closed
• Lime Kiln Road (Several Points West of Route 15)- Closed
• Watson Road at Evergreen Mills Road- Closed
• Lime Kiln Road at Steptoe Hill Road
• Aldie Dam Road south of Route 50- Closed
• John Mosby Hwy./ at Champe Ford Road- Closed
• Dutchman Creek Road just north of the bridge near Irish Corner Rd. - Restricted

Motorists should attempt to use primary roads on their commutes home as many secondary roads are susceptible to flooding. Many secondary roadways remain impassable and the Loudoun Sheriff’s reminds motorists that if you find yourself driving in potential flash flood conditions, never drive through standing water on a roadway. Water may be much deeper than you think causing your car to stall or even get stuck in hidden debris.

For the latest Loudoun County traffic news and information, subscribe to Loudoun County Traffic

Rain and Localized Flooding Affects Roadways

As of 11:30 a.m., the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is reporting the following roadways closed or restricted to access due to flooding or high water:

• Route 15 at Goose Creek Bridge (Northbound Traffic is being diverted onto Route 50 and Southbound traffic is diverted onto Route 7, 621 and 704)
• Snakehill Road at Foxcroft Road- Closed
• Blackoak Rd. south of Snickersville Tpk.- Closed
• Snickersville Tpk./Yellow Schoolhouse Rd.- Closed
• Clover Hill Road/First St. (Waterford)- Closed
• Hampton Road at Catoctin Creek (Purcellville)- Closed
• Rt. 15/Little River- Closed
• Turneysville Rd at Harper’s Ferry Rd.- Closed
• Branchriver Rd. at Harper’s Ferry Rd.- Closed
• Route 606 at Greenway is down to one lane due to high water
• Lincoln Road at Forest Mill Rd.- Closed
• Crooked Bridge Lane- Closed
• Lime Kiln Road (Several Points West of Route 15)- Closed
• Watson Road at Evergreen Mills Road- Closed
• Lime Kiln Road at Steptoe Hill Road
• Aldie Dam Road south of Route 50- Closed
• John Mosby Hwy./ at Champe Ford Road- Closed

Many secondary roadways remain impassable and the Loudoun Sheriff’s Office reminds motorists that if you find yourself driving in potential flash flood conditions, never drive through standing water on a roadway. Water may be much deeper than you think causing your car to stall or even get stuck in hidden debris.

The Sheriff's Office continues to closely monitor roadways that are susceptible to flooding as some areas may experience high water even after the rain tapers off.

For the latest Loudoun County traffic news and information, subscribe to Loudoun County Traffic

Traffic Update: Route 9 Now Clear

An overturned tractor-trailer caused major delays this morning causing
Route 9 to close in Jefferson County, WV, near the Louduon County
line. The tractor-trailer spilled mulch and other debris over the
roadway.

In Loudoun County, members of the Louduon County Sheriff's Office
diverted Route 9 traffic onto Harper's Ferry Road for over four hours.
The crash was cleared shortly before noon and traffic is running as
normal on Route 9.

According to the West Virginia State Police the driver of the
tractor-trailer was trapped inside the cab of the truck and was
extricated by emergency personnel. He was taken to Jefferson Memorial
Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Route 9 is Closed Due to Accident

This traffic update from the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office...

An accident in Jefferson County, WV, has caused Route 9 to close.
Traffic in Loudoun County is being diverted via Route 671 (Harper's
Ferry Road). Motorists are advised to expect delays. More details as
they become available.

Editorial Says Dulles Rail is "Same Old Bad Idea"

In an editorial today, the Washington Examiner said that "the Federal Transit Administration’s recent U-turn on the Dulles Rail project... doesn’t change the flawed fundamentals of this $5 billion-plus mega-pork project, designed to benefit wealthy Tysons Corner landowners and their political allies at the expense of taxpayers and commuters."

The editorial adds that "Dulles Rail will not reduce traffic in Northern Virginia, as the project’s own environmental studies attest. It will actually increase congestion in and around Tysons, thanks to higher densities approved by the Fairfax Board of Supervisors in connection with the project."

"Once again, the politicians, bureaucrats and corporate insiders get their way and the rest of us get to pay for it. Because Gov. Kaine gave the toll road to the unelected, unaccountable Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which can raise tolls as high as it wants."

For the latest Loudoun County traffic news and information, subscribe to Loudoun County Traffic

Lane Closure - Route 7 in Hillsboro

VDOT reports a lane closure in Loudoun County on Route 7 east from Route 690 (Hillsboro Road) in Hillsboro to Route 287 (Berlin Turnpike), about 3 miles east of Hillsboro. The left lane is closed until 3:30 p.m., today, Tuesday, May 6, for road work. Use caution in the area.

Lane Closure in Purcellville

This Loudoun County lane closure update from VDOT...

On Route 7 east, from Round Hill Road near Round Hill, to Route 287 (Berlin Turnpike) in Purcellville, the right lane is closed until 3:30 p.m. this afternoon Monday, May 5, for paving.

Other Blog Comments on Dulles Rail

We thought it'd be interesting to share a couple of blogs (Restonian and Bacon's Rebellion) about today's announcement about Dulles Rail. We won't be able to get them all, but will try to include some from time to time.

And if you have any to share, comment below. Thanks.

For the latest Loudoun County traffic news and information, subscribe to Loudoun County Traffic

Dulles Rail Back on Again

According to Reuters, the U.S. government reversed course on Wednesday and said it would support a $5 billion plan to extend a regional commuter rail line to Dulles airport.

The Federal Transit Administration said it would provide $158.7 million to complete financial and construction planning for the 23-mile rail link to the Washington Metrorail system. But the Bush administration said that commitment is no guarantee of future support.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority must ensure it has sufficient funds to cover risks and prove the project will be completed on time and within budget, according to James Simpson, FTA administrator. Trains throughout the Washington Metro system must also be in working order, he added.

Federal, state and local officials have been wrangling over the Dulles rail project for years. Supporters argue it would alleviate traffic congestion in northern Virginia, where the airport is located, and provide convenient, affordable transportation to the nation's capital from the international airport.

Meanwhile, according to Virginia Business, Gov. Timothy Kaine says that fully funding the Metro system will be the biggest hurdle for landing federal money for the Dulles rail project.

Kaine said that the General Assembly would need to replace the $50 million
that would have been raised by regional taxes imposed by the Northern Virginia
Transportation Authority. The authority’s taxing powers were ruled unconstitutional by the Virginia Supreme Court. The governor is expected to call for legislators to hold a special session on transportation in late June.

The $50 million would have gone toward Metro’s operations budget, not capital
needs. Kaine said Virginia would “need to pull together other partners on the bigger issue of Metro funding.

Washington Post staff writer Amy Gardner was online this afternoon answering questions about the announcement of federal approval to extend Metrorail to Dulles Airport, if it clears the way for federal funding of the extension, and what's next for the project. Read the transcript here.

Other media articles:
Richmond Times-Dispatch
NBC TV-4
WUSA TV-9
WJLA TV-7

For the latest Loudoun County traffic news and information, subscribe to Loudoun County Traffic

Lane Closures on Goose Creek Bridge

There will be single lane closures on Harry Byrd Highway east and west (Route 7) at River Creek Parkway near Leesburg (on the Goose Creek Bridge) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day beginning today, Tuesday, April 29, until this Friday, May 2, for road work (weather permitting).