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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Question About a Traffic Light on Route 28

Loudoun County Traffic received the following question and thought it might be beneficial to pass it along to the rest of our readers. Following the question is the latest information according to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).

"What is the status of the light on Route 28 north and Steeplechase Drive? I get caught at the light or the backup from the light everyday on my commute home. For the life of me I can't understand why it's there. Steeplechase traffic can use Atlantic Blvd. and Nokes Blvd. to go north on Rt. 28."

According to VDOT, this is the sole remaining traffic signal on Route 28 within the Route 28 Corridor Improvements project. The next signal to the south is at the E. C. Lawrence Park entrance in Fairfax County, just north of I-66.

There is a plan to eventually remove the signal at Steeplechase. It is currently a right-in, right-out entrance, mostly for vehicles entering Route 28, since there is no acceleration lane as motorists enter northbound Route 28. Because there are no traffic signals upstream, in heavy traffic it is likely that there would not be sufficient gaps for a safe merge. But, the signal will be removed when Atlantic Boulevard is completed and open to traffic, currently scheduled for the end of 2011.

Commonwealth Transportation Board item on access at Steeplechase.

Thanks to VDOT personnel for providing this update to the readers of Loudoun County Traffic.

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Ground is Broken on "Most Difficult Portion" of Atlantic Boulevard

From the Leesburg Today comes coverage of the ground breaking for construction of a portion of Atlantic Boulevard.

Called the most difficult portion of Atlantic Boulevard, and therefore one that took the longest to reach construction, the link of the Rt. 28 parallel road between Magnolia Road and Church Road broke ground today. Once it is complete it will provide continuous travel along Atlantic Boulevard from Sterling Boulevard to Rt. 7.

Speaking before the ground breaking, County Chairman Scott K. York (I-At Large) said once the link is complete, commuters and residents would be able to make a complete loop, taking Atlantic Boulevard from Rt. 7 down to the Center for Innovative Technology near the Fairfax County border, crossing over Rt. 28 and heading back up Pacific Boulevard. All without getting on Rt. 28.

"It took a lot of time and a lot of dollars to get us to this point," York said.

Read the complete Leesburg Today article.

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