News:

Thank you for your patience during the Forum downtime while we upgraded the software. Welcome back and see this thread for some new features and other changes to the forum.

Main Menu

Loudoun County's Ambitious Highway Plans

Started by kernals12, November 23, 2020, 03:34:16 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

kernals12

If you look at the 2019 Loudon County transportation plan, there's a lot to get excited about.

-US 50 east of Northstar Boulevard will become a freeway
- Another freeway, called US 50 alternate, will be built closer to Dulles Airport
- All of the Leesburg Bypass will become a freeway
- The Loudoun County Parkway will become a freeway from US 50 to Old Ox Road, and if there is sufficient traffic, so will all of 606 with no less than 8 lanes

And that's not counting all widenings.


Jmiles32

Here's something you might enjoy: https://www.loudoun.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/8975

It's an update on a bunch of what Loudoun is currently eyeing transportation wise (with a big notable exception being the US-15 plans) Definitely a fun county for road geeks. However, I would nevertheless not expect any of the projects you've listed to be built anytime soon. While there was recent funding awarded for "US-50 alternate", I do not believe that this will be built as a four-lane freeway, at least not yet. Regarding building interchanges on actual US-50, while Loudoun appears to want to do this, there is currently no funding for it. The future interchange with the Loudoun County Parkway (the 1st priority) alone is projected to cost around $500 million which is insane. Still though, what they're doing now (mostly widenings and missing road connections via proffers, county funding, NVTA funding, etc) is still considerably more than other localities in the state.
Aspiring Transportation Planner at Virginia Tech. Go Hokies!

kernals12

Quote from: Jmiles32 on November 23, 2020, 06:11:53 PM
Here's something you might enjoy: https://www.loudoun.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/8975

It's an update on a bunch of what Loudoun is currently eyeing transportation wise (with a big notable exception being the US-15 plans) Definitely a fun county for road geeks. However, I would nevertheless not expect any of the projects you've listed to be built anytime soon. While there was recent funding awarded for "US-50 alternate", I do not believe that this will be built as a four-lane freeway, at least not yet. Regarding building interchanges on actual US-50, while Loudoun appears to want to do this, there is currently no funding for it. The future interchange with the Loudoun County Parkway (the 1st priority) alone is projected to cost around $500 million which is insane. Still though, what they're doing now (mostly widenings and missing road connections via proffers, county funding, NVTA funding, etc) is still considerably more than other localities in the state.

How is that possible? Unless they're making it a full blown stack, it should cost about $100 million max.

Jmiles32

Quote from: kernals12 on November 23, 2020, 06:31:29 PM
Quote from: Jmiles32 on November 23, 2020, 06:11:53 PM
Here's something you might enjoy: https://www.loudoun.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/8975

It's an update on a bunch of what Loudoun is currently eyeing transportation wise (with a big notable exception being the US-15 plans) Definitely a fun county for road geeks. However, I would nevertheless not expect any of the projects you've listed to be built anytime soon. While there was recent funding awarded for "US-50 alternate", I do not believe that this will be built as a four-lane freeway, at least not yet. Regarding building interchanges on actual US-50, while Loudoun appears to want to do this, there is currently no funding for it. The future interchange with the Loudoun County Parkway (the 1st priority) alone is projected to cost around $500 million which is insane. Still though, what they're doing now (mostly widenings and missing road connections via proffers, county funding, NVTA funding, etc) is still considerably more than other localities in the state.

How is that possible? Unless they're making it a full blown stack, it should cost about $100 million max.

I have no idea and agree but this what it says regarding that particular project:
QuoteLoudoun County Pkwy / Rt 50 Future Grade-Separated
Interchange: Currently LCP and Rt 50 cross at a signalized
intersection; however, the Board's long term plan is to upgrade
the intersection to a full grade separated interchange. The
interchange project was included as a new project in last years
adopted Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) with anticipated funding in
"future years" (more than 6 six years into the future). As this project is
anticipated to cost approximately $500 million to complete, future
Board's will need to seek significant state and federal funding
assistance. Based on the current status and tremendous cost of this
project, Supervisor Letourneau and I believe it will take at least 10
years, if not more, until construction is able to begin.

Hopefully, both the $500 million price tag and 10 years away estimate are wrong but we'll see.
Aspiring Transportation Planner at Virginia Tech. Go Hokies!

Dirt Roads

Quote from: Jmiles32 on November 23, 2020, 06:11:53 PM
Here's something you might enjoy: https://www.loudoun.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/8975

It's an update on a bunch of what Loudoun is currently eyeing transportation wise (with a big notable exception being the US-15 plans) Definitely a fun county for road geeks. However, I would nevertheless not expect any of the projects you've listed to be built anytime soon. While there was recent funding awarded for "US-50 alternate", I do not believe that this will be built as a four-lane freeway, at least not yet. Regarding building interchanges on actual US-50, while Loudoun appears to want to do this, there is currently no funding for it. The future interchange with the Loudoun County Parkway (the 1st priority) alone is projected to cost around $500 million which is insane. Still though, what they're doing now (mostly widenings and missing road connections via proffers, county funding, NVTA funding, etc) is still considerably more than other localities in the state.

Anybody remember the old "Don't Fairfax Loudoun" bumper stickers from the 1980s?  Traffic was already bad in all parts of eastern Loudoun when I moved south some 20 years ago.

Henry

And they probably thought turning VA 28 into I-366 was a crazy idea...
Go Cubs Go! Go Cubs Go! Hey Chicago, what do you say? The Cubs are gonna win today!

Dirt Roads

Quote from: Dirt Roads on November 24, 2020, 09:25:20 AM
Anybody remember the old "Don't Fairfax Loudoun" bumper stickers from the 1980s?  Traffic was already bad in all parts of eastern Loudoun when I moved south some 20 years ago.

Quote from: Henry on November 24, 2020, 10:20:26 AM
And they probably thought turning VA 28 into I-366 was a crazy idea...

It seemed to me that most folks wanted Sully Road to get the upgrade.  Support for new highways waffles between "make my commute faster" and "no more development".  Once the new VA-28 was in place, they certainly couldn't wait to get the four-lane, then to get the big interchanges, then to get the six-lane and then to get rid of the traffic lights.

kernals12

Quote from: Dirt Roads on November 25, 2020, 10:23:49 AM
Quote from: Dirt Roads on November 24, 2020, 09:25:20 AM
Anybody remember the old "Don't Fairfax Loudoun" bumper stickers from the 1980s?  Traffic was already bad in all parts of eastern Loudoun when I moved south some 20 years ago.

Quote from: Henry on November 24, 2020, 10:20:26 AM
And they probably thought turning VA 28 into I-366 was a crazy idea...

It seemed to me that most folks wanted Sully Road to get the upgrade.  Support for new highways waffles between "make my commute faster" and "no more development".  Once the new VA-28 was in place, they certainly couldn't wait to get the four-lane, then to get the big interchanges, then to get the six-lane and then to get rid of the traffic lights.

And the conversion of Virginia's Route 7 to a freeway seems to have little opposition. The only concerns are about traffic delays caused by the construction. If only things had gone like this for another certain Route 7...

1995hoo

Of course the people in Loudoun County favor upgrading Route 7 because it provides a free alternative to the Dulles Greenway's ever-increasing tolls.

Regarding the "Don't Fairfax Loudoun" slogan, I recall in the early 1990s there was concern in the Charlottesville area about "the Fairfaxing of Albemarle County" as Charlottesville's commercial development continued to push further north along Route 29.
"You know, you never have a guaranteed spot until you have a spot guaranteed."
—Olaf Kolzig, as quoted in the Washington Times on March 28, 2003,
commenting on the Capitals clinching a playoff spot.

"That sounded stupid, didn't it?"
—Kolzig, to the same reporter a few seconds later.

kernals12

Quote from: 1995hoo on November 25, 2020, 11:21:09 AM
Of course the people in Loudoun County favor upgrading Route 7 because it provides a free alternative to the Dulles Greenway's ever-increasing tolls.


But they're upgrading it all the way out to Round Hill.

And plenty of freeways that would've provided alternatives to toll roads (looking at you I-290 to Waltham and Somerset Freeway in New Jersey) got cancelled by NIMBYism too.

1995hoo

Quote from: kernals12 on November 25, 2020, 11:26:00 AM
Quote from: 1995hoo on November 25, 2020, 11:21:09 AM
Of course the people in Loudoun County favor upgrading Route 7 because it provides a free alternative to the Dulles Greenway's ever-increasing tolls.


But they're upgrading it all the way out to Round Hill.

And plenty of freeways that would've provided alternatives to toll roads (looking at you I-290 to Waltham and Somerset Freeway in New Jersey) got cancelled by NIMBYism too.

It was already mostly freeway-grade from the east side of Leesburg to Round Hill. There are four partial at-grade intersections going up the hill west of Leesburg and east of the interchange with Route 9, though the road effectively functions like a freeway through there, and then it's all freeway-grade west to the western end of Business Route 7 at the western end of Round Hill just east of the Hill High Marketplace.

In this case, BTW, Route 7 from Leesburg to Route 28 long predates the Dulles Greenway, though of course the road was not in its current form.
"You know, you never have a guaranteed spot until you have a spot guaranteed."
—Olaf Kolzig, as quoted in the Washington Times on March 28, 2003,
commenting on the Capitals clinching a playoff spot.

"That sounded stupid, didn't it?"
—Kolzig, to the same reporter a few seconds later.

cpzilliacus

Quote from: Dirt Roads on November 24, 2020, 09:25:20 AM
Anybody remember the old "Don't Fairfax Loudoun" bumper stickers from the 1980s?  Traffic was already bad in all parts of eastern Loudoun when I moved south some 20 years ago.

Yes.  There was an analog in Maryland to this - "Keep Calvert Country" at about the same time.
Opinions expressed here on AAROADS are strictly personal and mine alone, and do not reflect policies or positions of MWCOG, NCRTPB or their member federal, state, county and municipal governments or any other agency.

Joke Insurance

Quote from: Henry on November 24, 2020, 10:20:26 AM
And they probably thought turning VA 28 into I-366 was a crazy idea...

Was the idea of upgrading VA 28 to a I-366 an actual idea at one point?

hotdogPi

Quote from: Joke Insurance on December 05, 2020, 01:27:32 PM
Quote from: Henry on November 24, 2020, 10:20:26 AM
And they probably thought turning VA 28 into I-366 was a crazy idea...

Was the idea of upgrading VA 28 to a I-366 an actual idea at one point?

It was one forum member's idea, and it has since become a meme. Nobody actually in a position of power has proposed it.
Clinched, minus I-93 (I'm missing a few miles and my file is incorrect)

Traveled, plus US 13, 44, and 50, and several state routes

I will be in Burlington VT for the eclipse.

1995hoo

Quote from: Joke Insurance on December 05, 2020, 01:27:32 PM
Quote from: Henry on November 24, 2020, 10:20:26 AM
And they probably thought turning VA 28 into I-366 was a crazy idea...

Was the idea of upgrading VA 28 to a I-366 an actual idea at one point?

Search the forum for posts by ethanman62187.
"You know, you never have a guaranteed spot until you have a spot guaranteed."
—Olaf Kolzig, as quoted in the Washington Times on March 28, 2003,
commenting on the Capitals clinching a playoff spot.

"That sounded stupid, didn't it?"
—Kolzig, to the same reporter a few seconds later.

MillTheRoadgeek

I for one am certainly surprised how much they're doing in Loudoun, right on the edge of rural Loudoun even!
I'm not hoping for interchanges all down the corridor, but some at high-profile intersections will do fine.

Here's an interesting concept that never really took off.
https://www.urban-ltd.com/northstar-boulevard

epzik8

Why don't they just move mainline US 50 to the Dulles freeway and change the existing US 50 in the area to US 50 Alternate?
From the land of red, white, yellow and black.
____________________________

My clinched highways: http://tm.teresco.org/user/?u=epzik8
My clinched counties: http://mob-rule.com/user-gifs/USA/epzik8.gif

kphoger

Quote from: epzik8 on December 16, 2020, 03:35:11 PM
Why don't they just move mainline US 50 to the Dulles freeway and change the existing US 50 in the area to US 50 Alternate?

With what as the goal?
Keep right except to pass.  Yes.  You.
Visit scenic Orleans County, NY!
Male pronouns, please.

Quote from: Philip K. DickIf you can control the meaning of words, you can control the people who must use them.

MillTheRoadgeek

Quote from: epzik8 on December 16, 2020, 03:35:11 PM
Why don't they just move mainline US 50 to the Dulles freeway and change the existing US 50 in the area to US 50 Alternate?

Not sure how they'd pull that off - the DTR ends a ways off of Route 50 in Falls Church. Might need to route it along 66 still to do so.

kernals12

Quote from: MillTheRoadgeek on December 08, 2020, 11:12:34 PM
I for one am certainly surprised how much they're doing in Loudoun, right on the edge of rural Loudoun even!
I'm not hoping for interchanges all down the corridor, but some at high-profile intersections will do fine.

Here's an interesting concept that never really took off.
https://www.urban-ltd.com/northstar-boulevard

I can see why. Cloverleafs are out of fashion

MillTheRoadgeek

Quote from: kernals12 on December 17, 2020, 08:05:03 PM
Quote from: MillTheRoadgeek on December 08, 2020, 11:12:34 PM
I for one am certainly surprised how much they're doing in Loudoun, right on the edge of rural Loudoun even!
I'm not hoping for interchanges all down the corridor, but some at high-profile intersections will do fine.

Here's an interesting concept that never really took off.
https://www.urban-ltd.com/northstar-boulevard

I can see why. Cloverleafs are out of fashion

I believe it's still planned as a parclo - one loop was taken out as there is now a housing development in place. That may be the only reason they've taken it out. The Loudoun County Parkway interchange still has plans for a full cloverleaf though.

kernals12

Quote from: MillTheRoadgeek on December 17, 2020, 08:48:58 PM
Quote from: kernals12 on December 17, 2020, 08:05:03 PM
Quote from: MillTheRoadgeek on December 08, 2020, 11:12:34 PM
I for one am certainly surprised how much they're doing in Loudoun, right on the edge of rural Loudoun even!
I'm not hoping for interchanges all down the corridor, but some at high-profile intersections will do fine.

Here's an interesting concept that never really took off.
https://www.urban-ltd.com/northstar-boulevard

I can see why. Cloverleafs are out of fashion

I believe it's still planned as a parclo - one loop was taken out as there is now a housing development in place. That may be the only reason they've taken it out. The Loudoun County Parkway interchange still has plans for a full cloverleaf though.


You're kidding. The cloverleaf interchange is a menace. It is the worst thing New Jersey has hoisted upon this planet, yes, even worse than Snooki.

MillTheRoadgeek

Quote from: kernals12 on December 17, 2020, 08:56:41 PM
You're kidding. The cloverleaf interchange is a menace. It is the worst thing New Jersey has hoisted upon this planet, yes, even worse than Snooki.

Just how it was planned by the Loudoun boards. Though one thing's for sure, not a single cloverleaf interchange built in this world is my fault.

kernals12

Quote from: MillTheRoadgeek on December 17, 2020, 09:11:29 PM
Quote from: kernals12 on December 17, 2020, 08:56:41 PM
You're kidding. The cloverleaf interchange is a menace. It is the worst thing New Jersey has hoisted upon this planet, yes, even worse than Snooki.

Just how it was planned by the Loudoun boards.

Those bastards. They've doomed us all.

Alps

Quote from: kernals12 on December 17, 2020, 08:56:41 PM
Quote from: MillTheRoadgeek on December 17, 2020, 08:48:58 PM
Quote from: kernals12 on December 17, 2020, 08:05:03 PM
Quote from: MillTheRoadgeek on December 08, 2020, 11:12:34 PM
I for one am certainly surprised how much they're doing in Loudoun, right on the edge of rural Loudoun even!
I'm not hoping for interchanges all down the corridor, but some at high-profile intersections will do fine.

Here's an interesting concept that never really took off.
https://www.urban-ltd.com/northstar-boulevard

I can see why. Cloverleafs are out of fashion

I believe it's still planned as a parclo - one loop was taken out as there is now a housing development in place. That may be the only reason they've taken it out. The Loudoun County Parkway interchange still has plans for a full cloverleaf though.


You're kidding. The cloverleaf interchange is a menace. It is the worst thing New Jersey has hoisted upon this planet, yes, even worse than Snooki.
lol
lol
It depends on the weaving volumes.
source: being a traffic engineer
please stop trolling



Opinions expressed here on belong solely to the poster and do not represent or reflect the opinions or beliefs of AARoads, its creators and/or associates.