Printer-Friendly
Email this Story
Post a Comment (0)
Grant solves major Leesburg traffic woe
An additional $5 million in state grant has Leesburg’s biggest roadwork project moving in the right direction, said Leesburg Mayor Kristen Umstattd.
On May 23, Gov. Tim Kaine (D) announced the $5 million transportation grant, which will allow the town to pursue improvements to Battlefield Parkway connecting Route 7 to the north and Kincaid Boulevard to the south near the Dulles Greenway.
The project involves connecting the 0.7-mile section of Battlefield Parkway to the Route 7/15 Bypass and Route 7.
“The … grant allows the design-building contract to move ahead this summer to address the continued economic growth and the mounting issue of congestion in Leesburg,” Kaine said. “We will be able to have this important project move to construction in early 2008 and be complete by the end of 2009.”
According to the Virginia Department of Transportation, the project will include construction of a four-lane divided highway with two bridges crossing the W&OD Railroad Regional Park, Tuscarora Creek and floodplain, as well as a 10-foot shared-use path for pedestrian and bicycle traffic, and a noise barrier wall.
The Battlefield Parkway project is a $35 million transportation project. The town received $10 million from the federal government. The rest of the money comes from local and state funding.
“It is the biggest design-build project that VDOT has commissioned,” said Leesburg Mayor Kristen Umstattd. “The Battlefield Parkway has been the town’s top transportation priority for at least the last 15 years since I’ve been around.”
The parkway project is a public-private project, allowing construction companies from the private sector – along with those in the public -- to submit a bid and plans for consideration by the town. This type of project could shave as much as two years off the construction schedule, Umstattd said.
“The same company would be doing the designing and building,” Umstattd said. “We’ve seen a real improvement in how VDOT is willing to work with the town. … We couldn’t have done this project five years ago.”
The Virginia General Assembly approved the Public Private Transportation Act in 1995. It allows private entities to enter into agreements to construct, improve, maintain and operate transportation facilities in the commonwealth.
The $5 million grant will allow the town to have money for another priority project in Leesburg, Umstattd said.
“The grant allows us to free up $5 million that we’d put toward these projects back toward the King Street expansion and widening project,” she said.
Umstattd said the $5 million is also tied to solving a traffic concern at the intersection of Sycolin Road and the Route 7 Bypass.
“The intersection at Sycolin and [the] Bypass is the most dangerous in the town,” said Umstattd. She said the town would like to build a flyover bypass road that would get rid of the light at the intersection of Sycolin and the Route 7 Bypass. This bypass would relieve traffic that backs up at that light.
By 2010 the [Battlefield Parkway] project would be finished and construction on the flyover bypass could commence, she said.
Terri Laycock, assistant county administrator, said the county had limited funds for the project and the governor’s $5 million helps.
“It is an important link to get some relief for Sycolin Road and for the Sycolin-Route 15 Bypass," said Laycock. "It’s really going to help the Town of Leesburg.”
Contact the reporter at hhobbs@timespapers.com
You must be logged in to post a comment.