Arlington approves fixes to its ‘intersection of doom’

Arlington County:

“A week after a cyclist was hit at an Arlington crossing bikers refer to as the ‘intersection of doom’ and then ticketed by U.S. Park Police, county officials approved changes to the area. These modifications were in the works before the accident, and do not touch on the primary problem with the intersection — that cyclists on the Custis Trail have a green light at the same time as cars turning from I-66 onto the Key Bridge. But they will improve sight lines and make the bike and pedestrian crossing shorter.

The plan extends the curbs at the intersection to narrow the distance cyclists must cross. It also makes the turn sharper, which slows cars down. It also expands the trail leading up to the intersection, which gives bikes more space to wait, and lowers the buffer alongside it for better visibility. The plan also includes updates to the lights and signs at the intersection. Construction is supposed to begin in the spring of 2015 and end a year later.”

~Writes Rachel Weiner of the Washington Post

Click here to read this column

Construction To Begin On Rt. 7 Widening, Interchange Roundabouts

Loudoun County:

“VDOT and Shirley Contracting will hold a pre-construction meeting for planned upgrades to Rt. 7 west of Leesburg at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 15 at Loudoun County High School in Leesburg. Construction is expected to begin this month on a new westbound ‘climbing lane’ and roundabouts at the Rt. 9 interchange at Clarkes Gap. The new lane is designed to reduce afternoon rush hour congestion, while the interchange improvements should help with morning traffic flow. The project also includes reconfigured medians with barrier-separated left-turn lanes, and an extension of Fort Johnston Road that will connect Alysheba Drive to Leeland Orchard Road.

During the meeting, residents will get an overview of the project and the construction schedule and plans to manage traffic during the construction period, which continues through October, 2015.”

~Writes Leesburg Today

Click here for the article

Click here to learn more from VDOT

Beach moves forward to widen busy intersection

Virginia Beach:

“One of Virginia Beach's most congested intersections, which snarls commuters heading to and from Oceana Naval Air Station, is finally on its way to getting some relief. The city has fully funded a $25 million project that will widen First Colonial Road at Virginia Beach Boulevard from four to six lanes to the Interstate 264 overpass.

‘There's a need for it,’ said Sam Reid, president of Oceana Gardens Coalition Civic League and a School Board member. ‘Especially in the morning and the afternoon. That whole corner comes to a standstill - cars backed up everywhere from base traffic. It doesn't matter what direction you're coming from. It clogs up the whole intersection in all directions.’

The city's acquisitions will affect about 30 properties in the project's path. Appraisals will be sent out this spring, followed by acquisitions and relocations. The city already has bought more than 30 parcels on the fringes of the intersection as part of the planned widening. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2016.”

~Writes Stacy Parker of the Virginia Pilot

Click here to learn more

Motorists still confused about Opal intersection

Fauquier County

“Virginia taxpayers spent $45 million on the interchange to ease congestion in Opal. Now, if transportation officials can just get Route 17 southbound motorists to use the big circle that loops from Routes 15/29 just down the road from Pete’s Park ’n’ Eat.

Engineers designed the project to dramatically reduce the number of left turns at the Opal stoplight. More than 40,000 vehicles a day pass through that intersection. After the interchange opened Nov. 11, the Virginia Department of Transportation eliminated one of two left turn lanes for southbound Route 17 traffic.

Despite electronic and static signs about the change, confusion among motorists made the busy intersection even more dangerous as the new traffic pattern took effect."

~Writes Lawrence Emerson of Faquier Now

Click here to learn more

Residents Updated on Stafford Project

Stafford County

“A Boswells Corner intersection project will eat up land from a half-dozen property owners around the intersection of U.S. 1 and Telegraph Road, according to details displayed at Thursday night’s meeting in North Stafford… Work is slated to start in the spring of 2014 and could be finished by the fall. The intersection is notorious for backups and accidents, especially since the Base Realignment and Closure, which has caused an increase in traffic in the area and at the nearby Marine Corps Base Quantico.”

~Writes Scott Shenk of the Free Lance Star

Click here to learn more