Loudoun County Parkway Closed at Smith Switch Road

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office reports that the Loudoun County
Parkway is closed at Smith Switch Road for approximately 1-2 hours due
to a gas leak. Motorists should avoid the area and seek alternate
routes.

Editorial Says Disingenuous is Best Way to Describe Rail Opponents

According to a Sun Gazette editorial, “Disingenuous” is perhaps the best way to describe the latest tack among opponents of the Dulles Rail project.

The editorial notes that critics, "who have done all in their power to delay the project from moving forward, are now complaining that . . . the project has been delayed in moving forward. And add in the shocking revelation that, as time goes by, construction costs mount. Wow!"

For Fairfax County news and information, be sure to subscribe to All Fairfax

Crime Solvers Seeks Information on Hit and Run

Loudoun County Crime Solvers is offering a reward for information in the search for a pick-up truck involved in a hit and run collision last week that seriously injured a Sterling, Virginia man.

On July 18, 2008, the victim was sitting at the traffic light on Route 7 westbound at River Creek Parkway when around 1 a.m. his vehicle was struck from behind by an unknown pick-up truck. The driver the pick-up, an unknown male, exited his vehicle and apparently checked on the victim before fleeing the scene in his vehicle.

The suspect vehicle is described as an older model dark in color pick-up truck. The vehicle was last seen heading westbound towards Leesburg, Virginia. The vehicle is believed to have extensive front end damage.

If you have any information about this crash or know the whereabouts of the suspect vehicle you are asked to call the Loudoun County Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919 or toll free at 1-877-777-1931.

If the information leads to an arrest and indictment the caller could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Route 15 Now Open in Both Directions

Traffic update from the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office...

Route 15, north of Lucketts is now open in both directions. The
roadway was closed for several hours due to downed power lines from a
late night crash.

Construction Today to Effect US 7 West of Round Hill

Construction update from VDOT affecting Loudoun County traffic...

US 7 west from Route 831, about 2 miles west of Round Hill, to Route
711, about 3 miles west of Round Hill... The right lane is closed,
until 3 p.m. today, Thursday, July 24, for road work.

Northbound Route 15 in Lucketts Re-routed

From the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office... Route 15 northbound
traffic remains re-routed due to downed wires in the area of Lucketts
and Saint Claire Lane. Southbound traffic is open. Motorists should
expect delays in this area for the next few hours.

Another Setback for Dulles Rail

Citing officials with the project, WTOP Radio reported this afternoon that construction on the Dulles rail extension will be delayed for at least a year and that the cost of the project will increase by over $50 million.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority announced today that construction will not begin until March of 2009, at the earliest. The project was supposed to begin in February 2008.

A statement from the Airports Authority statement said:

"In preparation for submitting our Full Funding Grant Agreement application for the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project, it is necessary for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority to update our previously executed design-build contract with Dulles Transit Partners. The Airports Authority Board of Directors has agreed to incorporate the requirements outlined by the Federal Transit Administration in May 2008 when it authorized the project to move into final design, as well as to update the contract schedule and cost to reflect delays that haveoccurred in starting construction."

"The contract amendment approved today sets March 2, 2009 as the date for construction to begin with an expected completion date of July 31, 2013, and renegotiates the contract price at $1.63 billion."

"The Airports Authority is committed to bringing rail to the Dulles Corridor, and is continuing to work with all of our partners to ensure the timely completion of this project."

The first phase of the project will take Metro out to Wiehle Avenue. The second phase of the project -- extending Metro to Loudoun County -- is still in the planning stages.

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

Church Road at Davis Drive is Now Open

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office reports that Church Road at Davis
Drive has re-opened.

Motorists are advised that utility personnel are still on the scene
repairing downed wires.

Church Road at Davis Drive is Closed

This road update from the Loudoun County Sheriff's office.... the
intersection of Church Road and Davis Drive is closed due to downed
utility lines. Residents should avoid the area and should seek an
alternate route.

Sheriff's Office Continues Crackdown on Unlicensed Drivers in Loudoun County

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office is continuing its crackdown on unlicensed drivers in the county.

On Wednesday, the Sheriff's Office conducted a driver's license checkpoint on Church Road between Aspen Road and York Road in Sterling. The location for the checkpoint was selected after deputies patrolling these areas came across a number of unlicensed drivers during daily traffic stops.

The checkpoint was held from 4 to 7 p.m. 2,105 vehicles passed through with 27 summonses issued. Six drivers were caught driving without an operator's license and one person was charged with driving on a suspended license. Another driver was charged with possession of marijuana.

Other summonses issued included six people charged with no operator's license on their possession, one for no county sticker, one for no insurance, one for violation of window tint, six for expired registrations, and five for expired inspection.

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office will hold several more drivers license checkpoints throughout the summer. The agency conducted similar checkpoints last year with the goal of removing unlicensed drivers from county roads. Nearly 40 motorists were charged for driving without a license during the three checkpoints held last year.

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

Route 659 Now Clear

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office reports that the two vehicle crash
on Route 659 (Gum Spring Road) at Sweetwater Lane near the Prince
William County line has been cleared and the roadway is now open.

Route 659 Closed

Traffic Update from the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office...
Route 659 is closed between Prince William County and Route 659 and
Sweetwater Lane in Loudoun County due to a major crash.

Motorists should avoid the area and expect delays.

Have You Seen This Truck?

The Loudoun County Sheriff?s Office is searching for a pick-up truck
involved in a hit and run collision overnight that seriously injured a
Sterling man.

Mark A. Goode, 46, was sitting at the traffic light on Route 7
westbound at River Creek Parkway in a 2004 Chrysler Sebring when
around 1 a.m. he was struck from behind by another vehicle. The
driver, described as a Hispanic male, exited his vehicle and
apparently checked on Goode before fleeing the scene in his vehicle.

The suspect vehicle is described as an older model Ford Ranger
pick-up, dark in color, and was last seen heading westbound towards
Leesburg, VA. The vehicle is believed to have extensive front end
damage. The license plate is possibly hanging due to the collision.

Goode was airlifted to INOVA Fairfax Hospital where he is being
treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

If you have any information about this crash or know the whereabouts
of the suspect vehicle you are asked to call the Loudoun County
Sheriff?s Office at 703-777-1021 or Deputy First Class D. Lake of the
Loudoun County Sheriff?s Office Traffic Safety Unit at 703-737-8307.
If the caller wishes to remain anonymous they are asked to call
Loudoun Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919. If the information leads to an
arrest and indictment the caller could be eligible for a cash reward
of up to $1,000.

Road Closure

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office reports that Route 50 at Lenah
Liberty Gas Station is closed due to a major accident. (report current
as of 4:45 p.m.)

VDOT Construction Update

VDOT reports construction in Loudoun County on Route 7 west (Harry Byrd Highway) from Route 831 (Yellow Schoolhouse Road) about one mile west of Round Hill, to Route 711 (Williams Gap Road) about 2 miles west of Round Hill. The right lane is closed until 3 p.m. on Monday, July 14, for road work.

Route 50 at Loudoun County Parkway Closed

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

Route 50 is closed at Loudoun County Parkway due to a serious crash. Units from the Virginia State Police are currently on the scene. Motorists are advised to expect delays if traveling through this area.

Tree Clearing for Dulles Metro Utility Work Underway

According to the Fairfax Times, work began last week in three cloverleafs along the northwest side of Route 123 between the Dulles Toll Road/Dulles Connector Road bridge and Tysons Boulevard, in preparation for the future construction of the Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project. The work was scheduled to begin on July 3 and continue through tomorrow, Tuesday, July 8, weather permitting.

"Sections of trees and vegetation will be removed within the cloverleafs at the itersection of I-495 and Route 123 in Tysons Corner. And that tree clearings will take place along Route 123 from the Dulles Airport Access Road bridge south toward Anderson Road. Work is limited to land that is needed for utility work."

Dulles Metrorail project information can be found online at www.dullesmetro.com, or by calling 703-572-0506.

Road Work / Land Closure Updates

From VDOT... Loudoun County Road Work:

On Route 7 (Harry Byrd Highway) east and west between the Goose Creek Bridge and River Creek Parkway, just east of Leesburg. The right lane will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, starting tomorrow, Tuesday, July 8, to Friday, July 11, for road work, weather permitting.

Also on Route 7 east and west at the Battlefield Parkway interchange in Leesburg, the eastbound right lane and the westbound left lane will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day, beginning today, Monday, July 7, to Friday, July 11, for road work, weather permitting.

And on Route 28 north and south between Route 625 and Route 7 near Sterling... there are alternating lane closures, and a left turn lane closure, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily starting today, Monday, July 7, to Friday, July 11, for road work, weather permitting.

Rising Fuel Prices the Result of Speculation, Says Trade Group

Got any July 4th holiday driving plans? Well, according to one survey, gasoline and diesel demand has dropped and NATSO, the national association representing America's
travel plazas and truckstops, says that unregulated market speculation is driving gas prices higher. And that will affect each of us that plan a trip this holiday weekend with ever increasing gasoline and diesel prices.

"NATSO notes that with fewer people on the road, retailers have seen demand for fuel
drop. Demand for both gasoline and diesel dropped significantly in May, even while wholesale fuel prices (the cost of fuel that retailers pay) continued to climb."

"The number of gallons of gasoline sold fell nearly three percent in May as compared with last May 2007, and diesel gallons sold dropped twice as much that month, by about six percent. Declines of demand for fuel greater than 2.5 percent are rare, even more so in a time that is considered to be peak driving season."

"Despite these declines, during that same month gasoline and diesel wholesale prices surged. According to the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS), the average wholesale cost of fuel sold to retailers climbed throughout May and June. Retailers were paying an average 37 cents over the prior month for gasoline and an average of over 60 cents more for diesel, topping the $4 mark for the first time ever."

"NATSO adds that while consumers feel the squeeze of the higher prices, for fuel
retailers the surging price of fuel strains their credit lines and makes cash flow difficult to manage. A tanker truckload of diesel fuel, which a couple of years ago cost a little more than $10,000, now costs more than $32,000. Wholesale prices can increase as much as 10 to 15 cents in a single day, making it more challenging than ever to manage fuel inventories at travel plazas and gas stations."

So... you still planning any holiday travel? If so, post a comment. Let other Loudoun drivers know if the high price of fuel has grounded you.

Update: Tractor Trailer Accident on US 15 Now Cleared

From VDOT.... the earlier tractor trailer accident on US 15 (James Monroe Highway) north and south near US 50 (John Mosby Highway) in Gilberts Corner about 9 miles south of Leesburg has been cleared. All lanes are now reported open, however, motorists should still expect delays in the area.

Update on US 15 Tractor Trailer Accident

The Washington Post online reports that a tractor trailer loaded with plywood crashed with another vehicle on Rt. 15 near Route 50 this morning, according to Virginia State Police. State Police said one person died in the collision but have provided no other details while the incident is under investigation. Rt. 15 northbound is closed while authorities investigate and remove the wreckage.

Tractor Trailer Accident on US 15

VDOT reports a tractor trailer accident in Loudoun County on US 15 (James Monroe Highway) north and south near US 50 (John Mosby Highway) in Gilberts Corner, about 9 miles south of Leesburg. The road is closed in both directions. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes.

One available northbound detour is to turn right onto US 50, left onto Watson Road, left onto Evergreen Mills Road, and back onto US 15 near Leesburg. Southbound traffic is being diverted off of US 15, and onto Route 612, (Tail Race Road). Expect delays.

Loudoun County Road Work to Close Lanes on Route 7

Lane closure information from VDOT...

Route 7 east and west at the Battlefield Parkway interchange in Leesburg... the eastbound right lane and the westbound left lane will be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, July 1, and Wednesday, July 2, and from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, July 3, for road work, weather permitting.

Lane Closures Affect Loudoun County Drivers

This update from VDOT... In Fairfax County, on Route 28 north and south between Route 625 and Route 7, near Sterling... the right and left lanes will be closed and the left turn lane will be temporarily closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today, Tuesday, July 1, and Wednesday, July 2, and from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, July 3, for road work, weather permitting.