Route 50 Widening Project to Start Next Week

According to a VDOT press release, construction begins next week to widen Route 50 from four to six lanes between Poland Road in Loudoun County and Route 28 in Fairfax County. The 3.7-mile design-build project will take three years to complete.

Motorists will begin seeing construction equipment and work crews on Oct. 5, weather permitting. Through next spring, crews will be working only on westbound Route 50, restriping pavement and shifting lanes to make room for construction.

There will be no lane closures on holidays or during rush hours, but motorists can expect lane closures overnight and mid-day. During all other times, all lanes and turn lanes will remain open.

Route 50 narrows from six lanes to four just west of Route 28. Increased development and congestion in Loudoun County creates backups during much of the day on the existing four-lane segment, especially during morning and evening rush hours.

When completed, traffic-clogged Route 50 will have three lanes in each direction, improved turn lanes and traffic signals, curb and gutter on the outside lanes, crosswalks and pedestrian signals, widened and upgraded bridges, and pathways on both sides of the road. The road will also be more level and provide wider buffers between travel lanes and roadside hazards.

The $100 million improvement project includes $8.3 million for preliminary engineering, $24.5 million for right of way acquisition, $9.9 million for utility relocation and $57.2 million for construction.

Shirley Contracting is the contractor for the design-build project.

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Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Celebrates New Harmony Park and Ride Lot

Members of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors were on hand today for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Harmony Park and Ride lot, located at Scott Jenkins Memorial Park, 39464 East Colonial Highway, east of Hamilton. The event also featured a demonstration of the electric vehicle charging stations installed at the facility.

The Harmony Park and Ride is the first permanent, county-owned commuter parking lot in western Loudoun County. It serves carpoolers, vanpoolers and commuter bus riders. Bicyclists who choose to carpool, vanpool or ride commuter buses are able to use the lockers or bike racks at this facility.

The Harmony Park and Ride lot is also home to the county's pilot program featuring five electrical vehicle charging stations, which are available for public use. The stations were installed with funds from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program. EECBG funds also were used to install 48 solar arrays and LED lights at the facility.

Route 287 Now Open

The Loudoun County Sheriffs office reports that Route 287 (Berlin Turnpike) at Piggott Bottom Road is NOW OPEN. The roadway was closed as emergency personnel worked a house fire in the area.

Route 287 closed at Piggott Bottom Road

The Loudoun County Sheriffs office is advising motorists that Route 287 (Berlin Turnpike) is currently closed at Piggott Bottom Road due to a house fire. Avoid the area and use caution.

Harmony Park and Ride Ribbon-cutting Ceremony

Loudoun County will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m., Wednesday, September 28, for the new Harmony Park and Ride lot located at Scott Jenkins Memorial Park, 39464 East Colonial Highway, east of Hamilton.

The Harmony Park and Ride is the first permanent, county-owned commuter parking lot in western Loudoun County. It serves carpoolers, vanpoolers and commuter bus riders. Bicyclists who choose to carpool, vanpool or ride commuter buses are able to use the lockers or bike racks at this facility.

The Harmony Park and Ride lot is also home to the county’s pilot program featuring five electrical vehicle charging stations, which are available for public use. The stations were installed with funds from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program. EECBG funds also were used to install 48 solar arrays and LED lights at the facility.

Members of the Board of Supervisors, Planning Commission, Loudoun County staff, as well as local, state, and regional transportation officials are among those who have been invited to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The event will also feature a demonstration of the electric vehicle charging stations installed at the facility.

For more information, call 703-771-5511 or email.

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Sheriff's Office Seeks Additional Witnesses for Accident Investigation

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office is seeking additional witnesses to a crash that injured a member of the agency. Investigators with the agency's Crash Reconstruction Unit are seeking witnesses who have not already spoken to law enforcement. If you witnessed this crash, please contact DFC D. Lake at 703-737-8307.

On Monday, Sept. 19, Captain Brian Courneya was traveling east on Route 7, between Route 9 and the Leesburg town limits, when around 5:20 a.m. his county issued vehicle was struck on its side by a deer. Courneya activated his emergency equipment and pulled his vehicle over to the side of the roadway. After he exited his vehicle, carrying a flashlight, he walked the median of the roadway and attempted to locate the deer to ensure it was not injured or in the roadway.

As the Sheriff's Captain was walking along the median an oncoming 1999 Jeep Cherokee, traveling in the right hand lane, came upon slow moving traffic and swerved left to avoid a rear-end collision. The vehicle crossed the left lane and struck Courneya. He was taken to the Cornwall Campus of INOVA Loudoun Hospital where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the Jeep was charged with reckless driving (failure to maintain control).

Tolls Receive "Conditional" Approval in Virginia

Toll Road News reported yesterday that FHWA administrator Victor Mendez has granted Virginia conditional approval to develop a detailed proposal for tolling I-95 in the commonwealth to support reconstruction and rehabilitation.

The authority was given under the Interstate Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Pilot Program which provides for a limited number of permits for tolling of interstates so long as the funds raised are used to support modernization within the corridor.

Conditional approval reserves a "slot" for Virginia to develop the project and seek approval with a detailed plan. The approval would cover projects along the whole of VA/I-95 - 179 miles, 286km - from the North Carolina state line to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge at the Potomac River. However under the concept being explored tolls would be applied at locations selected for significant improvement and expenditures, or for traffic management. In major stretches where no significant improvement was needed tolls would not be imposed.

Read the complete article and the governor's press release.

FWHA letter (PDF).

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Sheriff's Captain Injured After Being Struck by Vehicle; Driver Charged

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office reports that Captain Brian Courneya was traveling east on Route 7, between Route 9 and the Leesburg town limits, when around 5:20 a.m. this morning when his county issued vehicle was struck on its side by a deer. Courneya activated his emergency equipment and pulled his vehicle over to the side of the roadway. After he exited his vehicle, carrying a flashlight, he walked the median of the roadway and attempted to locate the deer to ensure it was not injured or in the roadway.

As the Sheriff's Captain was walking along the median an oncoming 1999 Jeep Cherokee, traveling in the right hand lane, came upon slow moving traffic and swerved left to avoid a rear-end collision. The vehicle crossed the left lane and struck Courneya.

The driver of the Jeep, Craig H. Trout, 62, of Lovettsville, Va., was charged with reckless driving (failure to maintain control).

Courneya was taken to the Cornwall Campus of Inova Loudoun Hospital where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. He is a 22-year veteran of the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office and is a member of the Field Operations Division. He is currently the commander of the Central Loudoun Sheriff's Station.

Sobriety Checkpoint Tonight in Western Loudoun County

The Loudoun County Sheriffs Office will conduct a sobriety checkpoint tonight, Friday, September 16, in Western Loudoun County.   
 
The sobriety checkpoint will be held from 10 p.m. tonight until 3 a.m. tomorrow morning. The Sheriffs Office designed the checkpoints to raise public awareness and to discourage impaired driving. 
 
?Our ultimate goal is to ensure the roads 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,? added Simpson.   
 
Members of the Sheriffs Office Auxiliary Unit and volunteers from the Loudoun Chapter of MADD will assist with the checkpoint.

Witnesses Sought for Potomac Run Plaza Crash

The Loudoun County Sheriffs Office is seeking witnesses to a two vehicle crash that occurred yesterday morning, Tuesday, September 13, in Sterling.   

Around 9:30 a.m., a 2004 Honda Odyssey was exiting the Potomac Run Plaza and attempting to go eastbound on Benedict Drive when the minivan was struck by a 2004 Honda Pilot that was traveling northbound on Bartholomew Fair Drive.  The impact caused the minivan to roll over onto its roof. There were no serious injuries as a result of the crash and both drivers declined medical treatment at the scene.   

Investigators with the Loudoun County Sheriffs Crash Reconstruction Unit are seeking witnesses to the crash who have not already spoken to law enforcement.  

If you witnessed this crash, please contact DFC D. Lake at 703-737-8307.

Loudoun County Parkway Widening

According to today's "Leesburg Today," the long-awaited widening of the section of Loudoun County Parkway in front of Redskins Park, where drivers are forced to slow from 45 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour at Gloucester Parkway, might be within reach.

The paper reports that Supervisors Monday voted to direct staff to enter into negotiations with Beaumeade Associates, who submitted a Public-Private Transportation Act proposal to widen the road segment from two lanes to four lanes. Per the partnership, the county would use cash proffers and previously approved funds to pay for the construction and then Beaumeade Associates would reimburse the county for an agreed-upon amount, as well as provide any needed right of way and easements for the road expansion.

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Water Main Break - Tavistock Farms on Sycolin Road

The Leesburg Utility Maintenance Division is still in the process of repairing the water main break at the entrance to Tavistock Farms on Sycolin Road. Public safety officials encourage commuters to use extreme caution while traveling in this area especially during tonight?s rush hour. The estimated time of repair is approximately 10 p.m. this evening.

Community Information Meeting for Proposed Park & Ride Lot at Franklin Park

The Loudoun County Office of Transportation Services is hosting a community information session to discuss the proposed park and ride lot to be built at Franklin Park at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 8, at the Franklin Park Arts Center, 36441 Blueridge View Lane in Franklin Park.

The information session will give residents an opportunity to become familiar with the project as well as offer a forum for public comments, suggestions and feedback.

The proposed project calls for a 200-space park and ride facility to be built on the southeast corner of Franklin Park fronting Route 7 and the park entrance road. A portion of the park and ride lot will be dedicated for use by equestrian organizations and will include an open parking area to accommodate horse trailers. In addition, the commuter parking will be a shared-use lot and available for park or equestrian events that occur on weeknights, weekends or holidays.

Some features of the proposed lot include enhanced landscape planting along the northern project line, LED lighting in the parking area, preservation of existing mature healthy trees, and a proposed internal equestrian trail which would connect to the existing perimeter equestrian trail.

Representatives from Loudoun County and the design consulting team will be at the meeting and will welcome questions, suggestions and feedback. A brochure that summarizes the proposed park and ride lot project and illustrates a draft design concept can be viewed on the Loudoun County website at www.loudoun.gov/park-ride/.

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Labor Day Weekend Travel

The Labor Day holiday travel period begins today, Thursday, September 1, through Monday, September 5.

According to an article on Marketing Forecast, AAA forecasts 31.5 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Labor Day holiday weekend, a 2.4 percent decrease from the 32.3 million people who traveled one year ago.

AAA Mid Atlantic says that the recent surge in economic uncertainty will deter some Virginians from traveling this Labor Day holiday weekend with close to 885,300 expected to journey 50 miles or more from home, a decrease of 2.3 percent (or just about 20,500 less) over last year’s holiday.

Meanwhile, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has announced that it will suspend lane closures for temporary work zones on interstates and roadways throughout the state over the upcoming Labor Day holiday weekend.

Lane closures will be lifted from noon Friday, Sept. 2, until noon Tuesday, Sept. 6. Permanent construction zones with concrete barriers and orange barrels will remain in place.

For real-time traffic conditions or to view traffic cameras, visit VDOT’s 24-hour travel information website, www.511Virginia.org. 511Virginia is also available by calling 511 from any phone in Virginia. A mobile version of the 511Virginia website, designed for handheld devices, is available at mobile511virginia.org.

Remember to pull over when using your mobile phone or have another passenger in your vehicle use the device. Don’t drive distracted.

To report a road hazard or to get answers to your transportation question, you can call VDOT’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-FOR-ROAD (1-800-367-7623) around the clock.

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