Officials Break Ground on Gloucester Parkway Extension

Members of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors and Loudoun County government staff joined with representatives of the Virginia Department of Transportation and other officials today, Tuesday, Sept. 30, in a groundbreaking ceremony for the Gloucester Parkway Extension project.

The $40 million project will extend Gloucester Parkway from Loudoun County Parkway to the intersection of Pacific Boulevard and Nokes Boulevard.

The project is scheduled to be completed in August 2016.

* photo courtesy of Loudoun County Government

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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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Nokes Boulevard Bridge at Route 28

According to the May/June issue of the Northern Virginia Project News newsletter from VDOT, Nokes Boulevard bridge at Route 28 is finished.

"The Nokes Boulevard bridge over Route 28 in Loudoun County has opened to traffic, eliminating a traffic signal and stop-and-go conditions. The entire $58 million interchange will be completed by mid-June, weather permitting, according to VDOT.

"Currently the Nokes Boulevard overpass crosses Route 28 and links motorists to Pacific Boulevard. In the future, Nokes Boulevard will extend to Ashburn. Nokes Boulevard comes to an abrupt end, but VDOT built it in such a way that when the funds become available sometime in the future, it can be extended."

For information on all Megaprojects or to sign up for alerts and updates, visit www.vamegaprojects.com/.

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Ribbon Cut On Last Rt. 28 Interchange In Loudoun County

"Despite the rain and wind that whipped through the tent, many of Loudoun's elected officials described Monday morning as 'fantastic' and 'a great day for the county,'" that according to an article today in the Leesburg Today newspaper.

"The reason for their sunny outlook was simple: they were gathered to celebrate the completion of the fifth and last interchange needed to make Loudoun's portion of Rt. 28 a limited-access highway. While not officially open, the Nokes Boulevard interchange is close enough to completion that county officials gathered this week to cut the ribbon on the long-awaited project. Ground was broken on the project in August 2007. The $58 million interchange is expected to be opened in mid-June."

"The Virginia Department of Transportation and the project team are awaiting the ability to put striping on the interchange's loops and entrance and exits lanes before the interchange is open. It takes two straight days of dry weather for the work to take place. Once the striping is complete the light at Nokes Boulevard will be shut off and removed, and once the loops are completed, the light at Severn Way will also be removed, leaving Steeplechase Drive as the only light along Rt. 28 in Loudoun. The Steeplechase Drive intersection will be modified to a right-in, right-out access later this summer and will remain that way until the completion of the Atlantic Boulevard extension, expected to open in 2010."

"The last of the interchanges being funded through the Rt. 28 tax district, landowners along the corridor contributed 75 percent of the funding, while the state picked up the remaining 25 percent of the cost. Sen. Mark Herring (D-33) acknowledged that such a public-private partnership only works if the public side keeps up its end of the agreement."

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VDOT to Hold Celebration for Nokes Blvd. Intersection Project

The Virginia Department of Transportation is celebrating the completion of the Nokes Boulevard intersection project on Monday, May 4, at 11 a.m. The ceremony will be outdoors at a location between Pacific Blvd. and Nokes Blvd., .25 miles west of Rt. 28. From I-66, take Rt. 28 north, left on Severn Way, then right on Pacific Blvd.

Loudoun County Chairman of the Board Scott York, Del. Robert Marshall, Loudoun County Supervisors, CTB members and VDOT representatives are expected in attendance.

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Loudoun County Travel Alerts for Week of Feb. 3

Route 15
Northbound and Southbound at Route 7, left lane closure for Bridge Inspection from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Friday, February 8.

Route 28/ Nokes Boulevard Interchange Project (Loudoun County)

• Route 28 North/ South between Route 625 (South) and Route 7 (North), Right and left lanes closed, Monday-Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm February 4-February 8.
• Nokes Boulevard East & West, between Atlantic Blvd (East) and Route 28 (West), Right and left lanes closed, Monday-Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm February 4-February 8

Road closure information from VDOT. These closures are subject to change due to adverse weather conditions and other unforeseen problems. Other lane closures not yet scheduled may also occur.

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