Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over this New Year’s Holiday Weekend

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office is reminding residents to drive sober this New Year’s holiday weekend or you will get pulled over. The agency will be conducting DUI saturation patrols throughout the holiday weekend.

Loudoun County Sheriff’s Deputies conducting a saturation patrol concentrate DUI enforcement in one geographic area and stop any drivers suspected of driving under the influence or for any motor vehicle violation.

The message is simple, drinking alcohol and driving does not mix. If you plan to consume alcohol, you should plan not to get behind the wheel of a vehicle or ride a motorcycle.

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office recommends motorists of these simple tips for a safe holiday:

• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin.
• Before drinking, designate a sober driver and leave your car keys at home.
• If you’re impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation.
• Use WRAP’s SoberRide program. www.wrap.org/soberride/.
• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to contact your local law enforcement.
• And remember, Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving. If you know someone who is about to drive or ride with a driver who is impaired, take the driver’s keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.

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Route 340 Now Open

The Loudoun County Sheriffs Office reports that Route 340 in Loudoun County is NOW OPEN in both directions.

Route 340 Closed due to Accident

Route 340 is closed in both directions due to a crash in the area of the Tri-State Exxon. 

According to the Loudoun County Sheriffs Office, motorists should expect delays in this area.

VDOT Clearing the Way for Holiday Travel

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is clearing a path for travelers this holiday season by lifting lane closures over the extended Christmas and New Year’s weekends.

VDOT will suspend lane closures from noon this Friday, Dec. 23, to noon Tuesday, Dec. 27, and again from noon Friday, Dec. 30, to noon Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012.

Read more from VDOT.

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Loudoun Sheriff’s Deputy Casey Johnson Recognized at 14th Annual WRAP Awards

Loudoun County Sheriff’s Deputy Casey Johnson was recognized last Friday, December 16, for his efforts in the fight against impaired driving at the 14th Annual Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) Awards.   

He was among several law enforcement officers from the region recognized by WRAP for their outstanding commitment in the fight against drunk driving.   

Johnson, a three-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office Field Operations Division, removed 18 impaired drivers from Loudoun’s roadways during the past year.  Johnson was also recognized in July after he pulled a 4-year-old Sterling, girl to safety after she climbed over the railing of a third story balcony. For those efforts Johnson received Patrol Deputy of the Month and a Meritorious Action Award.   


The annual WRAP Awards ceremony is part of 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 News4’s Hakem Dermish, Fairfax County Police Chief Colonel David M. Rohrer served as co-host, and the featured speaker was the Honorable William C. Mims, Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court.

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Single Vehicle Crash on Route 15 Takes Life of Leesburg Man

A Leesburg man lost his life yesterday, Friday, December 16, in a single vehicle crash on Route 15 south of Leesburg.  

Chauncey Smith, Jr., 57, was traveling south on Route 15 in a 1985 Chevrolet Corvette when around 1 p.m. the vehicle left the roadway near Oatlands Road. The vehicle then crossed back across the roadway and struck a tree.   

Smith lost his life at the scene.   

The cause of the crash is being investigated by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit.

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Sobriety Checkpoint Tonight, Friday, December 16, in Eastern Loudoun

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office will conduct a sobriety checkpoint Tonight, Friday, December 16, 2011, in Eastern Loudoun County.   

The sobriety checkpoint will be held from 10 p.m. This evening until 3 a.m. Saturday morning.  The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office designed the checkpoints to raise public awareness and to discourage impaired driving.  

Members of the Sheriff’s Office Auxiliary Unit and volunteers from the Loudoun Chapter of MADD will assist with the checkpoint.      

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office offers advanced publicity of sobriety checkpoints as it is a “best practice” based on various court rulings, and getting the word out to the public in advance adds to the main objective of holding the checkpoints, which is to discourage impaired driving.

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Subject in Custody: Located in Area of Route 15 & Edwards Ferry Road

Personnel with the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office and the Leesburg Police Department have located a wanted subject who fled from the emergency room at the Cornwall Campus of INOVA Loudoun Hospital (Leesburg).   

The subject, Elliot D. Lansdown, was involved in a crash on Route 15 around 5:48 a.m. this morning, Friday, December 16, and is wanted out of the state of Maryland. After the crash he was taken to the emergency room where he became combative with staff and fled the hospital.   

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Work Group Announces Final Recommendations

The Governance Work Group (GWG), created by Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and District of Columbia Mayor Vincent C. Gray to advance Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) governance reform, recently released its final recommendations for improving regional coordination among the WMATA Board of Directors and establishing greater focus on long-term, high-level policy.

This report, which is the result of extensive collaboration among the GWG and stakeholders, recommends actions to be taken not only by the Board but also through the adoption of legislation at the jurisdictional level and a Memorandum of Understanding to be signed by the Transportation Executives in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Legislation, which will establish Board member qualifications, reporting requirements and term limits, will be introduced in each of the three jurisdictions’ upcoming legislative sessions.

The GWG report also recommends the convening of an annual, regional summit with the Governors and Mayor, WMATA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair to review WMATA’s progress and remaining challenges. The first regional summit with Governors O’Malley and McDonnell and Mayor Gray is scheduled for January 13, 2012.

Read more on the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation website.

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Sheriffs Office Investigates Felony Hit and Run in Sterling

Loudoun County Sheriffs Office Seeks Burgundy Mini-Van with Front-End Damage  

The Loudoun County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's assistance to help locate a vehicle involved in a hit and run crash involving a motorcyclist.   

The hit and run occurred around 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday, December 13, in the area of S. Cottage Road and S. Fox Road in Sterling. The vehicle, a burgundy minivan, possibly a Toyota, struck the adult male victim as he was riding a Yamaha Nouvo. The driver of the minivan pulled over before fleeing the scene.   

The minivan should have damage to the driver's side front-end, including damage to the headlight area.    

The motorcyclist was taken to Reston Hospital Center with non-life-threatening injuries.   

If you have any information regarding this incident or the suspect vehicle, you are asked to contact DFC J.M. McClintic of the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office Crash Reconstruction Unit at 703-771-5978. 

If the caller wishes to remain anonymous they are asked to call Loudoun Crime Solvers at 703-779-1919. If the information leads to an arrest and indictment, the caller could be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Final Section of Atlantic Boulevard Opens to Traffic Tomorrow Morning

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has completed the final section of Atlantic Boulevard, giving motorists a continuous 4.5-mile route from Sterling Road to Route 7 and an alternative to heavily traveled Route 28.

The new section of roadway, from Magnolia Road to Church Road, will open to traffic in time for Wednesday morning’s rush.

“This short segment provides an important connection to help reduce Route 28 traffic,” said Susan Shaw, VDOT’s Route 28 program manager. “Atlantic Boulevard significantly improves options for local motorists.”

The new roadway has four lanes, a raised median, and an asphalt multi-purpose trail on the east and a concrete sidewalk on the west. It also features a single-span bridge over the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail with connections to the trail.

The total cost, including preliminary engineering, right of way acquisition, utilities and construction is $24 million.

Although the extension was constructed under the Route 28 PPTA design-build contract, it is state-funded and will be maintained by VDOT when complete. The contractor is Route 28 Corridor Improvements, LLC.

Photo courtesy of VDOT.

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Route 50 Now Open

Route 50 is NOW OPEN in both directions. 

The roadway was closed between Watson Road and Gum Spring Road due to a serious crash. 

The cause of the crash remains under investigation by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office.   

Route 50 Closed for Extended Period

The Loudoun County Sheriffs Office reports that Route 50 remains closed in both directions between Watson Road and Gum Spring Road due to a serious crash. The roadway is expected to be closed for a significant period of time.   

Route 50 Closed Near Fleetwood Road

Route 50 is closed in both directions due to a serious crash near Fleetwood Road. The crash is located on Route 50 west of Rt. 659. Both eastbound and westbound traffic is being diverted.   

For real-time traffic incident information in Loudoun County, visit www.loudoun.gov/traffic or www.loudoun.gov/mobiletraffic via your web browsing cell phone.

Governor McDonnell Outlines 2012 Transportation Plan

Speaking to more than 700 hundred industry and transportation agency professionals yesterday during the 2011 Governor's Transportation Conference in Norfolk, Gov. Bob McDonnell outlined his transportation policy and funding plans for the upcoming 2012 General Assembly Session. 

The governor called for changes in laws governing the allocation of future surpluses to transportation, dedicating portions of revenue growth attributable to transportation infrastructure projects to transportation, increasing the portion of sales tax dedicated to transportation, the establishment of an Interstate 85 Connector Economic Development and Promotion Zone to encourage businesses to invest in Virginia and ship through Virginia ports, and the advancement of Virginia's commercial space flight programs. 

Read the official Press release from the governor's office.

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Clarkes Gap Road Now Open

The Loudoun County Sheriffs Office reports that Clarkes Gap Road is NOW OPEN at Route 9. The roadway was closed earlier this morning due to a crash and traffic was impacted by a vehicle blocking one lane of traffic.

Accident on Clarkes Gap Road

The Loudoun County Sheriffs office reports that Clarkes Gap Road is closed at Route 9 due to a crash. Traffic has been impacted on the roadway due to a vehicle involved in the crash that is blocking one lane of traffic.

Update:Purcellville Road Now Open

The Loudoun County Sheriffs Oofice report that Purcellville Road south of Route 9 is now open.

Accident Closes Purcellville Road South of Route 9

Loudoun County public safety reports that Purcellville Road (Route 611) South of Rt. 9 is closed in both directions due to a single vehicle crash. Motorists should use caution in the area.

WTOP Reports that Tolls May Soar on Road to Dulles

WTOP Radio reported yesterday that whether or not drivers on the Dulles Toll Road want the Dulles Rail project or not, they are helping to pay for it -- and they may get hit with an even larger bill in the near future.

"About 75 percent of the financing for the second phase of the project -- the section that will run from Reston to Dulles International Airport and continue into Loudoun County -- is coming from toll road revenue.

"While toll road rates will jump by 25 cents in January, there is no further toll increase schedule yet in place. But indications are that higher-than-expected cost estimates related to the project's second phase could push tolls way up -- as much as about $7 for a one-way trip by 2020, according to some estimates"

Read the complete WTOP article online.

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Rain/Wind Causing Dring Hazards

According to Loudoun County public safety officials, downed trees/ high water blocking area roadways.  

Visit www.loudoun.gov/traffic orwww.loudoun.gov/mobiletraffic  for locations.

Rain and Snow is on the Way: County Offers Weather-Related Safety Tips

Winter storms can bring large amounts of rain and snow to our area and cause localized flooding. The Loudoun County Office of Emergency Management (www.loudoun.gov/oem) reminds residents to be aware of the force and power of water.  

Many deaths occur in automobiles as people and their vehicles are swept downstream. People should never drive around barriers or signs warning that roads are flooded. Whether you are driving or walking, if you come to a flooded road, stop and do not cross. Six inches of moving water can knock a person down and a mere two feet of water can move a large vehicle such as a bus!   

If roads become impassable due to flooding conditions, real-time traffic incident information for roadway obstructions and closures will be online at www.loudoun.gov/traffic or via your web browsing cell-phone at www.loudoun.gov/mobiletraffic. 

Winter Driving Safety Tips In Case of Overnight Snow:
Always keep the gas tank topped off. When it gets to half, fill it up.  

Do not travel unless absolutely necessary. If you do have to make the trip, ensure someone is aware of your route of travel.  

Carry a cellular phone. Your cell phone can be used during emergencies and for notifying those expecting your arrival in case there are weather delays.  

Always buckle-up. Your seat belt can be the best protection against drivers who are tense and in a hurry because of weather conditions.  

Clear snow and ice from all windows and lights – even the hood and roof – before driving.  

Pay attention. Don't try to out-drive the conditions. Remember the posted speed limits are for dry pavement.  

Leave plenty of room for stopping.  

Leave room for maintenance vehicles and plows – stay back a safe stopping distance and don't pass on the right.  

Use brakes carefully. Brake early. Brake correctly. It takes more time to stop in adverse conditions.  

Watch for slippery bridges, even when the rest of the pavement is in good condition. Bridges will ice up sooner than the adjacent pavement.  

Don't use your cruise control in wintry conditions. Even roads that appear clear can have sudden slippery spots and the short touch of your brakes to deactivate the cruise control feature can cause you to lose control of your vehicle. 

Do not pump anti-lock brakes. If your car is equipped with anti-lock brakes, do not pump brakes in attempting to stop. The right way is to "stomp and steer!"  

Look farther ahead in traffic than you normally do. Actions by cars and trucks will alert you quicker to problems and give you a split-second extra time to react safely.  

Remember that trucks are heavier than cars. Trucks take longer to safely respond and come to a complete stop, so avoid cutting quickly in front of them. 

Email Delivery Issues

Over the past couple of weeks, with increased traffic accidents and road closures and the increase in the number of articles and posts to Loudoun County Traffic, we have received several emails from residents wondering why they receive an email a day later about an accident or road closure.

We wanted to update our loyal readers to let you know that our email delivery service is provided by Feedburner. As a free service, mainly designed for the delivery via RSS, Feedburner does offer an email delivery, however, it is only sent as a daily digest.

Loudoun County Traffic wants to thank our residents for being fans and following us. We also want to apologize for any inconvenience these email notifications are. You can easily unsubscribe from the email delivery if you'd like. If you do, you may want to add the RSS feed (http://feeds.feedburner.com/LoudounCountyTraffic) to your favorite reader and/or sign up for Alert Loudoun traffic alerts, a service of the Loudoun County government, which will send traffic alerts to your cellphones and pagers.

Thanks for your loyalty to Loudoun County Traffic... and don't forget... be sure to email us with any pictures related to Loudoun County traffic, transit or transportation, and be sure to leave your comments after our articles. Fellow readers want to know how you feel about the issues, and so do our elected leaders and transportation officials.


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Update: Route 340 at West Virginia Line

The Loudoun County Sheriffs Office reports that the crash involving the tractor trailer on Route 340 at the West Virginia line has now been cleared.

Route 340 (Jefferson Pike) Closed at West Virginia Line

The Loudoun County Sheriffs office has reported that Route 340, Jefferson Pike, at the West Virginia line is closed in both directions due to a crash involving a tractor trailer. Virginia StTe Police are currently on the scene.

Dulles Greenway Open, WTOP Reports

WTOP Radio reports that the eastbound Dulles Greenway at Sycolin Road has reopened. 

www.wtop.com

Overturned Truck on Route 15 North

Emergency personnel are currently on the scene of an overturned truck in the area of Route 15 north of Prince William County line. Motorists driving in this area should expect delays and use caution in the area, according to the Loudoun County Sheriffs office.

Update: Delays Cleared on Greenway

All travel lanes now reported open on Eastbound Dulles Greenway at Sycolin Road, however, the right shoulder remains blocked. Delays have cleared according to public safety officials. 

If you were stuck in the traffic this morning, comment below. How bad was it?

Major Delays on Eastbound Dulles Greenway at Sycolin Road

The Loudoun County Sheriffs office reports that major delays continue this morning on Eastbound Dulles Greenway at Sycolin Rd. due to a multiple vehicle crash. The Virginia State Police on are on the scene. Motorists should expect delays, use caution in the area, and seek alternative routes.