Officials Break Ground on Roundabout Projects

By Matt Tobin

Saturday, May 3, 2008

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Gilbert's Corner Roundabout

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The ground is officially broken at the Gilbert's Corner project. The project is expected to help improve safety in and around of the intersection of Route 50 and Route 15. (Matt Tobin)

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Sen. John Warner (right), R-Va., sits alongside Jim Rich, chairman of the 10th district Republican Committee and co-chair of the Route 50 Task Force. (Matt Tobin)

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Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., stands for photographers holding a sign for the roundabout. (Matt Tobin)

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(Courtesy VDOT)

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(Courtesy VDOT)

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Officials from the Route 50 Task Force and the Virginia Department of Transportation broke ground on a $15.8 million roundabout project in the Gilbert's Corner area Friday afternoon in southern Loudoun.

The project, which consists of four roundabouts near the Route 50 and Route 15 intersection, is expected to reduce the speed of traffic and improve safety on roadways near the intersection, transportation officials said.

The project is the second of three "traffic-calming" measures along Route 50 in Fauquier and Loudoun counties. A third project, in Aldie, is expected to begin in late 2009.

"The Gilbert's Corner area has always been a point of severe congestion and some high-collision accidents," said Billy Green, senior construction manager of Route 50 corridor projects. "The theory of roundabouts is -- not that we are going to solve all of the traffic problems or solve all the backup -- the idea is we're going to keep traffic moving as opposed to stop and go. And when you do have accidents, they are very minor."

Construction will take place in several stages.

In all, four roundabouts are set to be built: one at the intersection of Route 50 and Route 15, another at the intersection of Route 50 and Watson Road, and two along a new connector road that will link Route 50 and Route 15 southeast of where the two roads intersect.

If all goes as planned, construction should be completed in fall 2009.

Peter Schwartz, co-chair of the Route 50 Task Force and member of the Commonwealth Transportation Board, said support from Sen. John Warner and Rep. Frank Wolf - both of whom attended Friday's news conference to mark the project - was key to its success.

Tagged: Gilbert’s Corner, transportation, VDOT

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