VDOT to Lift Lane Restrictions for the Holidays

Dr. Gridlock with the Washington Post reports that the Virginia Department of Transportation "will suspend lane restrictions on most major roads and highways for Christmas and New Year's. The agency plans to open lanes that have been closed due to construction or maintenance through Sunday (Dec. 27), and then again Dec. 31 through Jan. 3."

To check road conditions before you head out of town for the holidays, visit 511Virginia.

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I-66 Lane Closure Tomorrow Morning for Emergency Pothole Repair

The left lane of westbound I-66 will be closed between Great Falls Street and the Dulles Connector Road (Route 267) split for emergency pothole repair beginning at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow morning, Thursday, December 24.

Motorists should use extreme caution while traveling this route, especially considering holiday travel and snow removal efforts in the area. Crews will finish these repairs as soon as possible. Drivers are encouraged to use extreme caution and stay alert when approaching all construction areas.

All work is weather permitting and subject to change. For construction-related emergencies, call 877-585-6789 or visit www.dullesmetro.com/.

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Stay Home and Off the Roads

Loudoun County officials continue to ask residents to stay home and off the roads because of extremely treacherous travel conditions.

Earlier today, Virginia State Police closed several ramps due to icy conditions, including:

• Westbound I-495 to southbound I-95
• Northbound I-95 to northbound I-495
• Franconia Road (Route 644) to southbound I-95

And the following roads were blocked due to snow-related incidents:

• Southbound I-495 at Braddock Road
• Northbound I-95 south of Lorton
• Northbound I-95 south of Quantico

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Loudoun Emergency Management Officials Ask Residents to Stay Off Roadways

Loudoun County Emergency Management officials remind residents that while this weekend's snow is pretty, you are encouraged to stay home.

Avoid driving and other travel until conditions have improved. Most of the roadways are still impassable and blocked by snow. Residents should stay home and off the roads so that the snow removal crews can do their job plowing the roadways.

In addition, listen to the television, or if the power goes out, a battery-powered radio for updates on the weather and other storm-related information.

Remember, if it's not an emergency and you don't have to drive, don't! Stay home and stay safe!!

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Deputy Recognized for Removing 38 Impaired Drivers from Roadways in 2009

A Loudoun County Sheriff’s Deputy was recognized December 11 for his efforts in the fight against impaired driving. Deputy Jason Totaro was among several law enforcement officers from the region recognized by the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) for their outstanding commitment in the fight against drunk driving.

Totaro, a four-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, removed 38 impaired drivers from Loudoun’s roadways in 2009. Loudoun Sheriff Steve Simpson said the efforts of Totaro and the entire agency sends a clear message to impaired motorists, “if you drink and drive, we’re going to catch you.”

The annual event is in part a kick-off campaign for the Holiday SoberRide Program and also recognizes members of law enforcement for their efforts in impaired driving prevention. Founded in 1982, WRAP, is an award winning, public-private partnership working to prevent drunk driving and underage drinking in the Washington-metropolitan area.

The Master of Ceremonies was News 4’s Lyndsay Czarniak.

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Webinar Today on Economic Impact of Investment in Transit

As part of its webinar series, the Virginia Transit Association is offering a free webinar on measuring the public and economic impact of investment in transit today, Tuesday, December 15, from 2-3 p.m. Space is limited and registration is required.

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Gainesville Man Charged After Multi-Jurisdictional Pursuit in Loudoun and Clarke Counties

A Gainesville, Virginia man has been charged after leading Sheriff’s Deputies on a multi-jurisdictional high speed chase.

Matthew J. Star, 51, allegedly fled from authorities in Clarke County, Va. Around 3:20 p.m. December 10, Loudoun Sheriff’s Deputies were advised that a vehicle fled from law enforcement after a traffic stop in Clarke County and was entering Loudoun County on eastbound Route 7. The subject struck one other vehicle while fleeing from authorities. There were no serious injuries reported.

The vehicle traveled at a high rate of speed and its tires were damaged by two stop-sticks placed in the vehicle’s path during the pursuit. The vehicle continued to drive on at least three flat tires before losing control shortly after 3:30 p.m. on Route 7 near the Dulles Greenway interchange.
The suspect was taken into custody and is charged in Louduon County with speeding to elude and felony hit and run. Star is also facing charges in Clarke County with speed to elude and possession of stolen license plates. Star currently remains held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center.

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Multi-Jurisdiction Pursuit initiated on Rt 7 in Clarke County Ends Near Leesburg

A suspect who fled from authorities in Clarke County, Va., has been apprehended after being involved in a high-speed pursuit that ended near the Town of Leesburg.

Around 3:20 p.m. this afternoon, Thursday, December 10, Loudoun Sheriff’s Deputies were advised that a vehicle fled from law enforcement after a traffic stop in Clarke County and was entering Loudoun County on eastbound Route 7. The subject struck one other vehicle while fleeing from authorities. There were no serious injuries reported.

The vehicle traveled at a high rate of speed and its tires were damaged by two stop-sticks placed in the vehicle’s path during the pursuit. The vehicle continued to drive on at least three flat tires before being stopped shortly after 3:30 p.m. on Route 7 near the Dulles Greenway interchange.
The suspect was taken into custody and charges are pending. More details will be released as they become available.

Residents who believe their vehicle may have been damaged during the incident are asked to file a report with the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office at 703-777-1021.

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Sheriff's Office Recognized for Campaign Targeting Aggressive Driving

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and five members of the agency were recognized at a recent awards luncheon held by the Smooth Operator Campaign.

The agency, headed by Sheriff Steve Simpson, along with SD Mike Cenate, DFC Barry Dufek and Deputy Ron Beach were recognized for their efforts in going above and beyond their traffic enforcement duties. Lt. Rudy Landon and Traffic Analyst Michael Thompson were recognized for implementing the traffic safety program targeting aggressive driving in Loudoun County.

Smooth Operator, introduced in 1997 with 18 law enforcement agencies now involves more than 500 agencies from the District, Maryland and Virginia who cooperate in intensive, one-week aggressive driving enforcement "waves" - one each month from May through August. These special enforcement waves are in addition to the agencies everyday traffic safety efforts.

“Aggressive enforcement is the best way to crack down on aggressive drivers,” said Simpson. Since Smooth Operator began in 1997, more than 2.8 million citations for aggressive driving have been issued by area law enforcement agencies during the special enforcement waves.

The Smooth Operator Program is a public safety initiative, which aims to provide education, information and solutions for the problem of aggressive driving. For nearly ten years, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C., have partnered through the Smooth Operator Program to combat aggressive driving. Law enforcement agencies, trauma experts, government officials and other professionals have worked together to educate motorists of the risks involved with aggressive driving, and to stigmatize aggressive driving behavior on our roads.

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Loudoun County Sheriff's Office to Crack Down on DUIs This Holiday Season

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is taking a tough stance on motorists driving under the influence this holiday season.

Each weekend in December the agency will hold saturation patrols to include a sobriety checkpoint on December 18 in Eastern Loudoun. A saturation patrol is when deputies concentrate on one area and pull over anyone suspected of driving under the influence.

The agency is sending a strong reminder to motorists to plan ahead when attending holiday parties and events. Loudoun County residents are advised to call a cab or use a designated driver if they will be drinking. Variable message boards will also be placed throughout the county reminding residents to obey traffic laws.

“The ultimate goal of the agency is to ensure that Loudoun’s roadways are safe for all motorists by achieving voluntary compliance with the drinking and driving laws,” said Loudoun County Sheriff Steve Simpson. “If you drink and drive, we’re going to catch you,” Simpson warned.

On December 4, deputies took to the streets in the first of a series of saturation patrols and removed two inebriated drivers from county roadways. Seventeen motorists were charged with speeding, one charged for disregarding a red light, and three others were charged with traffic related citations.

The cost of the enforcement plan is offset using funds from a state grant targeting aggressive driving.

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Gilberts Corner Roundabouts Are Now Complete

Four roundabouts at Routes 15 and 50 in Loudoun County improve safety, traffic flow

State and local leaders cut the ribbon on four new roundabouts at Gilberts Corner in Loudoun County yesterday, celebrating a $15.8 million project that has already shown motorists better traffic flow and shorter delays at the intersection of Routes 50 and 15.

“Building roundabouts is a new and very different concept for VDOT in northern Virginia,” said Kenny Robinson, Route 50 corridor program manager. “This project is the result of a partnership between VDOT and the Route 50 Task Force to improve safety and traffic flow while preserving the rural nature of the area.”

Four new roundabouts were constructed — one at Gilberts Corner, one at Route 50 and Watson Road, and one at each end of Howsers Branch Drive, a newly built connector road. The direct link of Howsers Branch allows northbound Route 15 and westbound Route 50 traffic to bypass Gilberts Corner, reducing vehicles through that intersection by about one-third. Near the intersection, Route 50 carries an estimated 15,000 vehicles daily, while an estimated 11,000 vehicles travel Route 15 daily.

In addition to the roundabouts and connector road, the project features new lighting, landscaping, signage and truck aprons (sections of brick along the inside of the roundabout to help large trucks navigate the circle). A design-build contract with Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. and The Lane Construction Corporation closely coordinated design and construction to reduce the project’s time and cost — construction was completed in a little over 18 months.

The Gilbert’s Corner roundabouts are the second of three Route 50 traffic calming projects along a 20-mile corridor from Paris in Fauquier County to Lenah in Loudoun County. Improvements in Upperville were finished in December 2007, and a similar project in Aldie is expected in 2010.

Roundabouts are considered one of the safest types of intersection, moving traffic while reducing crashes, delays, fuel consumption, air pollution, and maintenance costs.

More information on Virginia’s roundabouts and the Gilberts Corner project is available at http://www.virginiadot.org/.

photo courtesy of VDOT.

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