Avoiding the Congestion Of Summer Construction

By Arianne Aryanpur (Contact)

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Summer is a peak season for road construction. To help you avoid congested work zones and keep track of what’s being done to expand road capacity, here is a list of the major road projects taking place in Loudoun County, supplied by the Virginia Department of Transportation.

The list includes projects funded and administered by Loudoun County and private developers as well as those overseen by VDOT.

Battlefield Parkway

The extension of Battlefield Parkway from Kincaid Boulevard to Route 7 in Leesburg began in July and is expected to be completed by fall 2009. The project includes a four-lane, median-divided road; two bridges crossing the Washington and Old Dominion Trail, Tuscarora Creek and its flood plain; a bike and pedestrian path; and a noise barrier wall for the Kincaid Forest community. The estimated cost is $35 million.

Route 28/Nokes Boulevard

Construction of a partial cloverleaf interchange with a four-lane bridge carrying Nokes Boulevard over Route 28 began in spring 2007 and will be completed in fall 2009. The estimated cost is $59.1 million.

Rte. 7/Loudoun County Parkway

Construction of a diamond interchange, with Loudoun County Parkway passing over Route 7, will begin in late summer and be completed in spring or summer 2010. The estimated cost is $38 million.

Sycolin Road Park-and-Ride

Construction of a 700-space park-and-ride facility with room for commuter buses and bicycles will begin in late summer and be completed in late 2009. A segment of Sycolin Road will be widened to enhance access to the facility and to Phil Bolen Park. The estimated cost is $14 million.

Route 7/ River Creek Parkway

Construction of a diamond interchange, with River Creek Parkway passing over Route 7, began in July and will be completed by June 2009. It will eliminate traffic signals at River Creek Parkway and Cochran Mill Road. The estimated cost is $32 million. The project is funded and administered by KSI Services, developers of the Village at Leesburg.

Gilberts Corner

Construction of four roundabouts in the Gilberts Corner area began in May and will be completed by winter 2009. One roundabout will be at routes 50 and 15, two will be on a new connector road just southeast of that intersection, and one will be at Watson Road and Route 50. The estimated cost is $15.8 million.

Braddock Road

Paving and reconstruction of Braddock between Gum Spring and Lenah roads began in fall 2005 and is expected to be completed in early 2009. The estimated cost is $3.3 million. The project is funded and administered by the developers of the Kirkpatrick Farms planned community.

Gum Spring Road

A portion of Gum Spring between Braddock Road and just south of Route 50 is being reconstructed and widened to a four-lane, median-divided roadway. Work began in February and is expected to be completed by mid-2009. The estimated cost is $4 million. The project is funded and administered by the developers of Kirkpatrick Farms.

Belmont Ridge Road

A portion of Belmont Ridge between the Dulles Greenway and just north of Waxpool Road is being reconstructed and widened to a four-lane, median-divided roadway. Work began in April and should be completed by mid-2009. The project is funded and administered by the developers of the Broadlands.

Faulkner Parkway

A four-lane, median-divided road is being built to replace the gravel section of Shellhorne Road between Ashburn Road and the Broadlands community near St. Theresa’s Church. The project, which includes a new crossing of Beaverdam Run, began in summer 2006. The segment of Faulkner Parkway adjacent to the Ashbrier community, as well as the connection to Broadlands Boulevard, will open in July. The estimated cost is $2 million. The project is funded and administered by the developers of the Broadlands.

Route 50

Construction of a third westbound lane on Route 50 from Gum Spring Road to Pinebrook Road will start this summer and be completed by mid-2009. The estimated cost is $1.6 million. The project is funded and administered by the developers of Arcola Center.

Evergreen Mill Road

A section of Evergreen Mill from the village of Arcola to the Loudoun County Parkway is being reconstructed and widened to an improved two-lane roadway, with widened shoulders and turn lanes. Work began in 2007 and is expected to be completed by late 2009. The estimated cost is $1.6 million. The project is funded and administered by the developers of Arcola Center.

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