VDOT, Dominion Virginia Power and Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy Partner to Create Habitat

Loudoun County One of Four Area Sites

Yesterday the Virginia Department of Transportation, Dominion Virginia Power and Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy planted 1,544 pollinator-friendly plants at four locations in Northern Virginia.

The sites will serve as “waystations,” or refuges, for monarch butterflies and other threatened pollinators by providing nectar and shelter to protect and boost populations.

Volunteers dug 900 square-foot beds and planted 386 plants at each of the four VDOT-owned sites in Northern Virginia:

• Southbound I-95 Dale City (car-only) Rest Area
• Stringfellow Road commuter lot in Centreville
• Telegraph Road commuter lot in Woodbridge
• Dulles North commuter lot in Sterling

.All of the plants are native and include 13 species:

• Common milkweed (asclepias syriaca)
• Swamp milkweed (asclepias incarnata)
• New England Aster (Aster nova-angliae)
• Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
• Joe Pye (Eupatorium maculatum)
• Beebalm/Oswego Tea (Monarda didyma)
• Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
• Wrinkle-leaved Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa)
• Blue-stem Goldenrod (Solidago caesia)
• New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis)
• Stiff Goldenrod (Solidago rigida)
• Hoary Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum incanum)
• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida 'Goldsturm')

The plants will attract a multitude of pollinators including native and honey bees, monarchs and other butterfly species, and beetles.

VDOT provided the land along with volunteers to plant the way stations while Dominion provided funding and a cadre of volunteers and Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy provided technical expertise.

“These sites will make for beautiful gardens, with blossoms from late spring through fall,” said Diane Beyer, Roadside Management Planner for VDOT’s Maintenance Division. “We are hoping this pilot project will lead to a statewide pollinator planting program -- one all residents of the Commonwealth can be proud of.”
                   
The four sites will be registered through the Monarch Watch Waystation Program. More information is available at www.monarchwatch.org/waystations/.

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Expect Major Delays on Market Street Near Battlefield Parkway in Leesburg

Tomorrow and Monday (Sept. 26-27), motorists can expect major delays on Market Street (Route 7 Business) near Battlefield Parkway in Leesburg while Dominion Virginia Power crews continue pulling wires across the roads for a new power line.

Traffic will be stopped for up to 20 minutes at a time on Sunday from 6:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. just west of Battlefield Parkway and on Monday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the intersection of Battlefield Parkway and Market Street.

State Police and VDOT will monitor traffic, and will temporarily suspend stoppages to relieve backups should they become significant.

The work is part of Dominion Virginia Power’s construction of a 12-mile, high-voltage power line from a new substation northwest of Hamilton, near the intersection of Berlin Turnpike and Route 7, to a substation off Cochran Mill Road east of Leesburg. The project requires crews to string electric lines along about nine miles of VDOT roads, crossing them a total of 15 times.

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Expect Delays Tomorrow Night on Main Street in Purcellville

Tomorrow (Sunday) evening, September 26, motorists can expect traffic delays on Main Street (Route 7 Business) in the Town of Purcellville while large utility equipment is transported to the new Dominion Virginia Power substation northeast of the Town. The convoy is expected to travel through town sometime between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m.

Two large flatbed trucks will be coming from Berryville on the Route 7 Bypass, exit at the Purcellville-Round Hill exit, and travel eastbound on Business Route 7 (Main Street) through the entire length of the Town of Purcellville. The convoy will turn north on Route 287 and then turn east on Bypass 7 to the new Dominion substation.

The convoy cannot use the Bypass 7 due to overhead obstructions.

State Police, officers of the Town of Purcellville and VDOT will monitor traffic queues and if traffic backups become significant will temporarily suspend the convoy to relieve the queues.

The work is part of Dominion Virginia Power’s construction of a 12-mile, high-voltage power line from the new substation northeast of the Town of Purcellville, near the intersection of Berlin Turnpike and Route 7, to a substation off Cochran Mill Road east of Leesburg.

Purcellville residents can contact Dominion with questions regarding this move, at 804-305-9792. For more information about Dominion’s project go to www.dom.com and enter “Pleasant View” in the search bar.

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Expect Major Delays on Route 7/15 Bypass in Leesburg on Sunday, Sept. 12

This coming Sunday, Sept. 12, motorists can expect traffic stops of up to 20 minutes on the Route 7/15 Bypass in Leesburg while Dominion Virginia Power crews continue pulling wires across roadways for the new power line, that according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. The work will take place from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Traffic stops will occur on the east and westbound lanes of the Route 7/15 Bypass, just west of Sycolin Road. Traffic stops will also occur on Sycolin Road at the Route 7/15 Bypass. Motorists heading to Leesburg can use Battlefield Parkway to avoid major delays.

State Police and VDOT will monitor traffic queues and temporarily suspend stoppages if necessary to relieve delays.

The work is part of Dominion Virginia Power’s construction of a 12-mile, high-voltage power line from a new substation northwest of Hamilton, near the intersection of Berlin Turnpike and Route 7, to a substation off Cochran Mill Road east of Leesburg. The project requires crews to string electric lines along about nine miles of VDOT roads, crossing them a total of 15 times. Periodic traffic stops will continue through mid-September.

For more information about Dominion’s project and for updates on traffic stops, visit www.dom.com and enter “Pleasant View” in the search bar.

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Motorists Should Expect Delays in Leesburg Monday and Tuesday

Tomorrow (Monday) and Tuesday, (August 23-24) motorists can expect major traffic delays in the vicinity of the Dulles Greenway, Route 7 and Route 15 in Leesburg, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. Traffic will be stopped for up to 15 minutes at a time while Dominion Virginia Power crews continue pulling wires across roadways for the new power line.

The periodic traffic stops are as follows:

Monday, August 23

• 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.: on the ramp from westbound Dulles Greenway to westbound Route 7, and on the ramp from westbound Route 7 Bypass to eastbound Dulles Greenway.
• Noon to 3:30 p.m. on the Route 7 Bypass, just east of the Route 15 overpass, and on the ramp from Route 15 to eastbound Route 7 Bypass.

Tuesday, August 24

• From 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the Route 7 Bypass just east of the Route 15 overpass, and on the ramp from Route 15 to eastbound Route 7 Bypass.

No traffic stops are scheduled for Wednesday through Friday. State Police and VDOT will monitor traffic queues and temporarily suspend stoppages if necessary to relieve delays.

The work is part of Dominion Virginia Power’s construction of a 12-mile, high-voltage power line from a new substation northwest of Hamilton, near the intersection of Berlin Turnpike and Route 7, to a substation off Cochran Mill Road east of Leesburg. The project requires crews to string electric lines along about nine miles of VDOT roads, crossing them a total of 15 times. Periodic traffic stops will continue through mid-September.

For more information about Dominion’s project and for updates on traffic stops, visit www.dom.com and enter “Pleasant View” in the search bar.

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Expect Traffic Stops on Route 7 Near Route 9 This Week, July 12-16

Dominion Virginia Power stringing wires across roadway

Motorists should expect periodic daytime traffic stops for up to 15 minutes on Route 7 just west of the Charles Town/Route 9 interchange July 12-16, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). All lanes of traffic in both directions will be stopped while Virginia Dominion Power crews pull wires across roadways.

The stops will take place Monday between noon and 3:30 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., and Friday between 9 a.m. and noon.

Each day, VDOT and Virginia State Police will monitor traffic volumes before stopping traffic for Dominion crews to pull lines across roadways.

Motorists can tentatively expect delays throughout the summer at these times and locations:

• Mid-July: expect periodic stops on Route 7 near the interchange of Route 9.
• Late-July - August: expect periodic stops on the Route 7 Bypass between Dry Mill Road and Route 15.
• August-September: motorists will experience the most delays in this timeframe as workers string lines along Route 7 and the Bypass between Route 15 and River Creek Parkway.

Dominion Virginia Power is building a 12-mile, high-voltage power line from a new substation northwest of Hamilton, near the intersection of Berlin Turnpike and Route 7, to a substation off Cochran Mill Road east of Leesburg. The work requires crews to string electric lines along about nine miles of VDOT roads, crossing them a total of 15 times.

According to a VDOT press release, Route 7 carries about 38,000 vehicles a day near Hamilton and 72,000 vehicles a day through Leesburg.

For more information about Dominion’s project visit www.dom.com and enter “Pleasant View” in the search bar.

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Dominion Virginia Power Project to Impact Route 7 Commutes This Summer

Loudoun County Motorists Should Expect 15 Minute Stops Between 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Construction of Dominion Virginia Power’s 12-mile, high-voltage power line between Hamilton and Leesburg in Loudoun County will require periodic traffic stops of up to 15 minutes on Route 7 from mid-May through September, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).

Dominion Virginia Power is building the line from a new substation northwest of Hamilton, near the intersection of Berlin Turnpike and Route 7, to a substation off Cochran Mill Road east of Leesburg. The work will require crews to string electric lines along about nine miles of VDOT roads, crossing them a total of 15 times.

All lanes of traffic in both directions will be stopped for up to 15 minutes when wires are pulled across roadways. These traffic stops will be permitted only on:

• Mondays from noon to 3:30 p.m.
• Tuesdays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon.

“We are keenly aware of how these stoppages will create backups,” said Howard Massey, VDOT Permits Inspector for Loudoun County. “Therefore we are limiting the hours of operation on weekdays and will not allow any road closures during rush hours, at night, on weekends or holidays.”

Expect Summer Delays
While the schedule for traffic stops is not complete, motorists can expect delays throughout the summer at these times and locations:

• May 17- June 4: expect periodic traffic stops on Route 7 near the interchange at Hamilton Station Road in Hamilton
• June: expect periodic stops on Route 7 near the interchange of Route 9
• July: expect periodic stops on the Route 7 Bypass between Dry Mill Road and Route 15
• August-September: motorists will experience the most delays in this timeframe as workers string lines along Route 7 and the Bypass between Route 15 and River Creek Parkway.

Route 7 carries about 38,000 vehicles a day near Hamilton and 72,000 vehicles a day through Leesburg.

Dry Mill Road Detour Begins May 10

Dry Mill Road, from Route 9 to Woodburn Road, will be closed to thru-traffic for about five days beginning on or about May 10 while crews bury a transmission line under the road. A six-mile detour will be in place while crews mill the road, dig a trench, install conduits, backfill trenches and repave the affected area. Dominion will provide each resident along Dry Mill Road with specific details on the closure and its impacts. Traffic volumes on Dry Mill Road range from 3,400 to 4,500 vehicles per day.

About the Project

In February, 2008, the Virginia State Corporation Commission approved Dominion’s application to build the line and issued an order to build approximately nine miles of the line overhead along Route 7 and two miles of the line underground along the W&OD Trail. Near the intersection of Dry Mill Road and the W&OD Trail at Clarks Gap, the underground line will cross Dry Mill Road to a transition station where the line will continue overhead along the north side of Route 7. The work will be done under a permit by VDOT.

Keeping Motorists Informed

Dominion and VDOT report they will both keep the public informed about upcoming work at least one week in advance. A complete, estimated schedule will be available on Dominion’s website, www.dom.com, and VDOT’s website, www.virginiadot.org, as new information is available. For more information on Dominion’s project visit www.dom.com and enter “Pleasant View” in the search bar.

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230-KV Transmission Line Approved for Loudoun County

Okay... it's not traffic or transit per se, but it may have an impact during construction...

Yesterday, the State Corporation Commission (SCC) approved the overhead construction of a 230-kilovolt transmission line by Dominion Virginia Power on a 12-mile route between the Pleasant View substation and the proposed Hamilton substation in Loudoun County.

According to a SCC news release, the Commission found that the new transmission line should follow a route known as the “Modified D” route as recommended by an SCC hearing examiner.

“No route can eliminate all adverse impacts. We find that Modified D minimizes as much as practicable adverse impact on scenic assets, historic districts, and environments of areas concerned, and results in fewer adverse impacts than other proposed routes.”

The SCC had previously found that the construction of the new transmission line was necessary for Dominion Virginia Power to maintain long-term reliability on its system and to serve the rapidly growing demand for electricity in western Loudoun County. The Commission noted in this order:

“…that [late last year] the Commonwealth issued The Virginia Energy Plan, which… states as follows: ‘Significant demand growth has occurred in northern Virginia, where the population has increased by 66 percent since 1990. Loudoun and Prince William Counties consistently rank among the fastest growing counties in the United States.’ ”

The transmission line will be constructed on single-shaft pole structures placed as far away from residences as possible. The poles will be located on existing right-of-way owned by Dominion Virginia and the Virginia Department of Transportation wherever possible. The line is expected to be constructed and in-service by January 1, 2011.

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