Waxpool/28 Interchange is now open!

[DAD4]

:D

[flynnibus]

too bad its only part of it.. but if it follows the old ox interchange.. the other ramps started opening quickly..

-Steve

[boomertsfx]

well.... the cloverleaf works fine.... They dont even need the flyaway lane (shouldn't that be done by now??) =) Though I notice people are almost in a panic still, after a few months, on the waxpool -> 28 south onramp.... that lane is always backed up for no apparent reason other than inability to merge at the collosal speed of 40mph it seems. It takes almost as long to get through that as the old 2 right-turn lanes. I can understand people getting used to the new cloverleaf for waxpool.... Perhaps it's all of the orange cones which seem to make people slow down to a crawl, kind of like a broken down car on the side of the road, flashing lights, etc.

[brim]

I enjoyed watching all the idiots that ignored the gigantic flashing 'COMMERCIAL RD. CLOSED, NO THROUGH TRAFFIC' sign and tried to get on 28 that way. On second thought, no I didn't, as it took me 10 min to get out of Wegmans as I sat there and watched while they did U turns and blocked the intersections. :(

[tigger]

A lot of people missed the signs for the new turn for Waxpool too. Saw hugh line of cars doing U-turns by the W&OD parking lot.

[brim]

Yah, I didn't want to blast them too... :)

[Carol Al-Ajroush]

So what is the procedure now for going straight across 28 from Waxpool to Church Road? When I traveled the new route yesterday to Dulles Town Center, I wasn't sure how one would now get to Crest books which I think is one of the best used bookstores in our area.

[Zansu]

the flyover couldn't be completed until after they got rid of the traffic lights because the lights were right on the path -- at the right (or wrong) height. SO they did everything but the two segments that will rest on the support that will be right exactly where some of the lights were. bummer planning.

[Tech Head]

Here's an updated map, with details,

http://www.28freeway.com/rt625ph1map.html

(I cannot believe that after all is said and done at this interchange, you will still have to wait at a stop light to turn left from Waxpool (Church) onto Route 28 North!)

[Homer Simpson]

quote:Originally posted by Tech Head

Here's an updated map, with details,

http://www.28freeway.com/rt625ph1map.html

(I cannot believe that after all is said and done at this interchange, you will still have to wait at a stop light to turn left from Waxpool (Church) onto Route 28 North!)


It's gonna cause problems in the long run. Case in point, the 28 / 66 interchange. Going East requires a light b/c the could not do a full clover leaf due to a church. Anyone who's tried it a rush hour knows what a pain this design can be.

[Pats_fan]

quote:Originally posted by Homer Simpson

quote:Originally posted by Tech Head

Here's an updated map, with details,

http://www.28freeway.com/rt625ph1map.html

(I cannot believe that after all is said and done at this interchange, you will still have to wait at a stop light to turn left from Waxpool (Church) onto Route 28 North!)


It's gonna cause problems in the long run. Case in point, the 28 / 66 interchange. Going East requires a light b/c the could not do a full clover leaf due to a church. Anyone who's tried it a rush hour knows what a pain this design can be.
I don't think it will be that bad. I don't really think you can compare our little 'ol Waxpool/28 intersection with the big, bad 28/66 intersection.

Besides, the light to turn north on 28 will be a lot shorter than the old light used to be. Instead of having to stop and manage traffic coming from 4 directions, the light will only have to stop cars heading westbound on Church Road.

[Homer Simpson]

quote:Originally posted by Pats_fan

quote:Originally posted by Homer Simpson

quote:Originally posted by Tech Head

Here's an updated map, with details,

http://www.28freeway.com/rt625ph1map.html

(I cannot believe that after all is said and done at this interchange, you will still have to wait at a stop light to turn left from Waxpool (Church) onto Route 28 North!)


It's gonna cause problems in the long run. Case in point, the 28 / 66 interchange. Going East requires a light b/c the could not do a full clover leaf due to a church. Anyone who's tried it a rush hour knows what a pain this design can be.
I don't think it will be that bad. I don't really think you can compare our little 'ol Waxpool/28 intersection with the big, bad 28/66 intersection.

Besides, the light to turn north on 28 will be a lot shorter than the old light used to be. Instead of having to stop and manage traffic coming from 4 directions, the light will only have to stop cars heading westbound on Church Road.


Never say never with this area. I know some "natives" who said the same thing about Centreville. I hear that there is gonna be a new shopping center built on the other side of 28 from the Car Max. That's going to put a strain on Church.

But what they put in is better then what it would have been if it was kept the same. If they extend Claiborne to 7 I'd be more inclined to go that way to Cascades/Sterling then by using waxpool/28.

[wahoogeek]

I know its only been one rush hour but I see problems already brewing. The ramp from 28N to Waxpool was backed-up onto 28N because of the light at Pacific. At the end of the ramp there is a very short merge area where people from the ramp are trying to merge in and people trying to get to Pacific (Wegman's) are trying to merge "out".

Nevermind the fact that Waxpool/Farmwell/AFP was backed up to Ashburn Rd this morning. Again, the light at Pacific was the main culprit.

[Tech Head]

I'm afraid that we haven't seen anything yet. They are starting on "Dulles 28 Center" in the Summer: Barnes & Noble, etc... You think the light at Pacific is bad now? Just wait. I don't understand it - they close Commercial Drive off of 28 and add 100-plus stores and restaurants (not too mention an 18-hole golf course)!

Here's a link to the development website,

http://www.dulles28centre.com/

And a layout of the site:

http://www.dulles28centre.com/images/PDFlayout/Lerner_Dulles_28_Centre_layout.pdf

It's only a matter of time before they need to put a cloverleaf at that intersection!

[neilz]

quote:Originally posted by Carol Al-Ajroush

So what is the procedure now for going straight across 28 from Waxpool to Church Road? When I traveled the new route yesterday to Dulles Town Center, I wasn't sure how one would now get to Crest books which I think is one of the best used bookstores in our area.


Stay on Waxpool and follow the signs!! You won't see a light until you reach the W&OD trail. Hopefully, they'll fix the old railroad underpass there soon, and the lights there will then disappear as the trail heads underneith the road.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

[DAD4]

O.K. I tried coming home north 28 to Waxpool tonight. :(

[brim]

quote:Originally posted by Tech Head

They are starting on "Dulles 28 Center" in the Summer

This is the first I've heard of this development. Ugh...once this goes in it's going to be unbearable getting around here. :( Only one vein into that place (Pacific)...genius planning.

[SarasMom]

How do you get to Waxpool from Northbound 28 now? I see the "ramp" for that is still under construction according to the map that was posted.

[boomertsfx]

What a horrible PDF file... it's like they pasted a 300x300 pixel GIF and resized it to full page size... can't read crap!

Also, who else thinks we will have a surplus of hotel rooms with the 2 hotels near Beaumeade and then the one near Wegmans.... crazy!

[tigger]

I took 28 North to Waxpool home yesterday. It was awesome. No back up anywhere, just breezed right onto Waxpool. It was wonderful. I haven't had any problems with the new interchange.

[Pats_fan]

quote:Originally posted by tigger

I took 28 North to Waxpool home yesterday. It was awesome. No back up anywhere, just breezed right onto Waxpool. It was wonderful. I haven't had any problems with the new interchange.I drove through this intersection (heading north on Rt. 28) around 7:15 last night, on my way to Rt. 7.

Ugh. It looks like the lack of the 4th cloverleaf is the least of that area's problems!

[brim]

quote:Originally posted by SarasMom

How do you get to Waxpool from Northbound 28 now? I see the "ramp" for that is still under construction according to the map that was posted.


The north-east leaf of the cloverleaf. There will be two ways to get onto Waxpool when the flyover is finished.

[Wick]

quote:Originally posted by brim

quote:Originally posted by SarasMom

How do you get to Waxpool from Northbound 28 now? I see the "ramp" for that is still under construction according to the map that was posted.


The north-east leaf of the cloverleaf. There will be two ways to get onto Waxpool when the flyover is finished.


Two ways? Really? Wow, that is interesting. How will it work?

[Pats_fan]

quote:Originally posted by Wick

Two ways? Really? Wow, that is interesting. How will it work?
There will be the recently opened cloverleaf connecting Rt. 28 north with Waxpool west, and there will be a flyover directly connecting the left lane(s) of Rt. 28 north with Waxpool west (see Ramp H of this map: http://www.28freeway.com/rt625ph1map.html ).

[brim]

quote:Originally posted by Wick

Two ways? Really? Wow, that is interesting. How will it work?


The same way the 66e/495w exchange works...if you're in the right lane of 28n, you can take the northeast leaf of the cloverleaf and if you're in the left lane you can take the flyaway lane.

[DAD4]

Tigger, what time did you go through this. I hit it @ around 6 P.M.
I exited off of the toll road @ 28N, and traffic was backed up to that point. It took me no less than 1 hour to get onto Waxpool. It seems that currently theres too much traffic being dumped on Waxpool all at the same time. 28N 28S and the traffic from church. Total bottleneck.quote:Originally posted by tigger

I took 28 North to Waxpool home yesterday. It was awesome. No back up anywhere, just breezed right onto Waxpool. It was wonderful. I haven't had any problems with the new interchange.

[BelindaTH]

Yesterday a.m. was terrible trying to get to Route 28 from Waxpool. It took me 35 minutes to drive from the Farmwell/Waxpool (Ice Arena) intersection to the Waxpool/Broderick (AOL).

This morning a little faster... but still 25 mintues!

[tigger]

quote:Originally posted by DAD4

Tigger, what time did you go through this. I hit it @ around 6 P.M.
I exited off of the toll road @ 28N, and traffic was backed up to that point. It took me no less than 1 hour to get onto Waxpool. It seems that currently theres too much traffic being dumped on Waxpool all at the same time. 28N 28S and the traffic from church. Total bottleneck

About 4:30pm

[wahoogeek]

I am already beginning to wonder what the alternatives are for bypassing the new (but not improved) 28/Waxpool interchange.

So how bad would it be to take Rt 7 to Belmont?

[Azsweepay]

Wow, last night sucked! It took me almost an hour to get from the toll road to Waxpool. It also didn't help that people were cutting in line and generally driving like a-holes. After I got past Pacific, it was clear sailing. At least before there were 2 lanes turning and I didn't have to worry about people not letting me in. I think getting rid of the Pacific light is a must but I'm not too sure how they could pull that off.

Gregg

[brim]

quote:Originally posted by Azsweepay

I think getting rid of the Pacific light is a must but I'm not too sure how they could pull that off.

I agree on both points. The only way I see is a cloverleaf and there isn't enough room on any of the corners.

Perhaps once they extend Pacific down to Nokes and they get that cloverleaf put in there, that would help aleviate retail traffic to the new shopping center/Wegmans...but that makes too much sense and most dummys will still try to get in there via Waxpool because it's 'closer', despite the fact that you may be able to get there 'faster' by going down to Nokes and coming in the back way w/ less traffic.

[neilz]

I think part of the issue was that last night was the first FULL workday evening rush hour the new traffic pattern was open. As people get used to the fact that instead of being in the left lane as before, they need to be in the right lane, it will smooth out.

However, a way to avoid that altogether for the next 4 to 8 months is to take the Greedway, er, Greenway right to Broadlands.

I know an hour of my time is worth the $1.75 !!



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

[vacliff]

As I've said before on different forum topics about the RTE 28 road improvements, getting into and out of Ashburn will be made WORSE because of these improvements.
The light on Commercial/RTE 28 was removed to speed up the traffic flow on RTE 28. The result is that all the traffic that feeds into the Wegman's/CarMax area has to go onto Waxpool then Pacific. This will result in lengthening the traffic signal time to allow for this traffic. The result? Getting into Ashburn will take longer because of the increased red light time on Waxpool. To add insult to injury, the plan is to put a pedestrian signal at this intersection so that the AOL employees can walk to Wegman's for lunch!!!!! This signal will have ALL directions stopped long enough for pedestrians to cross 9 lanes of traffic!!!!
Coming home from work the other day, I glanced north on Pacific as I was passing through the intersection. Both lanes were packed solid with cars all the way back to the stop sign at Commercial Dr. Just wait until they add the new mall!!!

The next kick in the teeth to Ashburn is that they are about to finish paving Loudoun County Parkway from RTE 7 to Beaumeade. The intent is to make this a major reliever road for RTE 28. The result is that Loudoun County Parkway will have significantly more traffic. The result? The traffic light at Waxpool/Loudoun County Parkway will be red for Waxpool for a much longer length of time.

By fixing RTE's 28 and 7, Ashburn is taking it in the shorts. Oh wait!!! We can all use the Greenway!!!

My prediction: By 2006 when all these improvements are done, the morning rush hour eastbound on Waxpool will be packed solid with bumper to bumper traffic from Ashburn Road to RTE 28. In the afternoon, the new "flyover" ramp from northbound 28 to Waxpool Road will be backed up and stopped on RTE 28 well south of the flyover ramp.

Just my opinion. I could be wrong.

[Homer Simpson]

quote:Originally posted by vacliff

As I've said before on different forum topics about the RTE 28 road improvements, getting into and out of Ashburn will be made WORSE because of these improvements.
The light on Commercial/RTE 28 was removed to speed up the traffic flow on RTE 28. The result is that all the traffic that feeds into the Wegman's/CarMax area has to go onto Waxpool then Pacific. This will result in lengthening the traffic signal time to allow for this traffic. The result? Getting into Ashburn will take longer because of the increased red light time on Waxpool. To add insult to injury, the plan is to put a pedestrian signal at this intersection so that the AOL employees can walk to Wegman's for lunch!!!!! This signal will have ALL directions stopped long enough for pedestrians to cross 9 lanes of traffic!!!!
Coming home from work the other day, I glanced north on Pacific as I was passing through the intersection. Both lanes were packed solid with cars all the way back to the stop sign at Commercial Dr. Just wait until they add the new mall!!!

The next kick in the teeth to Ashburn is that they are about to finish paving Loudoun County Parkway from RTE 7 to Beaumeade. The intent is to make this a major reliever road for RTE 28. The result is that Loudoun County Parkway will have significantly more traffic. The result? The traffic light at Waxpool/Loudoun County Parkway will be red for Waxpool for a much longer length of time.

By fixing RTE's 28 and 7, Ashburn is taking it in the shorts. Oh wait!!! We can all use the Greenway!!!

My prediction: By 2006 when all these improvements are done, the morning rush hour eastbound on Waxpool will be packed solid with bumper to bumper traffic from Ashburn Road to RTE 28. In the afternoon, the new "flyover" ramp from northbound 28 to Waxpool Road will be backed up and stopped on RTE 28 well south of the flyover ramp.

Just my opinion. I could be wrong.


Cliff, Sometimes we are just on the same page. It's a Christmas miracle. I agree 100% with what you said. Waxpool is already bumper to bumber at 6:30 AM at the LC Parkway light. Waxpool has become an endless string of mis-timed lights. I'm betting there will be at least on more light put in between Ashburn Rd and LC Parkway too.

The bulk of my commuting time to Chantilly is spent on Waxpool. I zip right up and down 28. It appears that all these actions lead to one thing. Forcing people to use the Greenway. I would not be surprised at all to find out in later years that they paid off the State and County. Afterall, the Greenway turns over to the State in 20XX. They'll want a piece of the cash cow too!

[SarasMom]

Just came back from Sterling - took 28 and used the ramp that took the place of Commercial. All was great until we came to a complete (and abrupt) standstill on Waxpool. Grrr. They've got Waxpool down to one lane just past AOL. Grinches don't want to let anyone merge either.

[WesGurney]

A lot of people thought that once the light at 28/Waxpool went away that all the traffic problems would get better. However, I wouldn't be so quick to pass judgement - there is still a large stretch of road on Waxpool that is under construction.

I'm suprised nobody has mentioned the east bound bridge on Waxpool (believe its call Broad Run Bridge) that hasn't opened yet between Loudoun County parkway and Pacific.

The reason for the backups isn't the 28 improvements, but that whole area between Wegmans/AOL and Loudoun County Parkway. Once they open that bridge and open more lanes in this zone, it will be able to handle the larger flows during the morning and afternoon rushhours.

The bridge is scheduled to open Winter 2005, so hopefully we should get the answer to our traffic woes within the next couple months.

[brim]

quote:Originally posted by WesGurney

Once they open that bridge and open more lanes in this zone, it will be able to handle the larger flows during the morning and afternoon rushhours.

For rush hours and commuters, it'll help a great deal...but when that shopping 'complex' goes in over next to Wegmans it won't matter. There'll be crazy retail traffic clogging up the Waxpool/Pacific intersection. :(

[neilz]

quote:Originally posted by brim

quote:Originally posted by WesGurney

Once they open that bridge and open more lanes in this zone, it will be able to handle the larger flows during the morning and afternoon rushhours.

For rush hours and commuters, it'll help a great deal...but when that shopping 'complex' goes in over next to Wegmans it won't matter. There'll be crazy retail traffic clogging up the Waxpool/Pacific intersection. :(


The developer of that complex will probably be required to extend Pacific past (under??) the W&OD trail north and tie it into one of the cross streets there. That would actually be the first thing I would do, so that you would have the additional traffic exit to the north.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

[flynnibus]

I think part of the problem is the old 'bottlenecks' kept this one from being overloaded.. now that you can pump more traffic into the area with the 606 interchange open.. 626 is even more strained.

Last night was abysmal.. traffic coming south on 28 was backed up to the tractor place.. and traffic going north was a circus as well. Much slower getting through there then was before.

I know some of its the new traffic pattern.. but I have a feeling better flow south at these two intersections is going to crush the existing light patterns on the existing intersections.

I especially hate the first light north of the tollroad.. it only serves that office park in the woods.. screw that! make them go north to sterling blvd or something. That light kills you.

-Steve

[brim]

quote:Originally posted by neilz

The developer of that complex will probably be required to extend Pacific past (under??) the W&OD trail north and tie it into one of the cross streets there. That would actually be the first thing I would do, so that you would have the additional traffic exit to the north.

According to the drawings on 28freeway.com, Pacific is already slated to be extended past Nokes:

http://www.28freeway.com/images/projectmap/rt625.jpg
http://www.28freeway.com/images/projectmap/rt638.jpg

...which is why I suggested earlier that traffic entering that shopping center would be better suited going down to Nokes to get in. It'd be nice if they'd cloverleaf Atlantic (just past the Trail parking area) you could hit that West and get to pacific. We all know that won't happen tho. :(

[WesGurney]

quote:Originally posted by neilz

quote:Originally posted by brim

quote:Originally posted by WesGurney

Once they open that bridge and open more lanes in this zone, it will be able to handle the larger flows during the morning and afternoon rushhours.

For rush hours and commuters, it'll help a great deal...but when that shopping 'complex' goes in over next to Wegmans it won't matter. There'll be crazy retail traffic clogging up the Waxpool/Pacific intersection. :(


The developer of that complex will probably be required to extend Pacific past (under??) the W&OD trail north and tie it into one of the cross streets there. That would actually be the first thing I would do, so that you would have the additional traffic exit to the north.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999


Check out http://www.28freeway.com/projectmap.html (click on Rt.625 and Nokes)

They show Pacific parallelling Rt.28 from Rt. 606 all the way to Rt. 7.

This will help tremendously because if someone is on Rt. 7 and wants to do some shopping at Wegmans/retail area, they have the option to take Pacific and bypass 28 and Waxpool completely.

It would be cool if someone had one of those traffic simulator's we could run a few scenario's on. :)

[Azsweepay]

Maybe I will just take Claiborne to 7 and then come back down Rt 28. Was running over there on Saturday and the work seems to be coming along.

Gregg

[Tech Head]

Coming home tonight was horrendous as well. Traffic was backed up in the right lane all the way to Sterling Blvd. It wasn't until the Ice House that traffic was freed up! I agree with vacliff. The new interchange has just made things a lot worse. The Pacific intersection cannot handle the volume of cars that is being thrown at it with this new configuration. There is no end in sight either. It will just be worse when the flyover ramp opens - that's just throwing more cars into the mess.
I don't think that the opening of the other bridge will make any difference either. The problem is the lights along Waxpool!

Looks like it's the Greenway for me from now on!
:(

[neilz]

quote:Originally posted by Tech Head


I don't think that the opening of the other bridge will make any difference either. The problem is the lights along Waxpool!

Looks like it's the Greenway for me from now on!
:(


I was going the other way today, over to the Dulles main Post Office. Looking at the traffic, between Loudoun Pkwy, Pacific, and the other turn off toward the Post Office (forget the street name), then seeing nothing between the Waxpool left turn, and Loudoun Pkwy drove home that is is the timing of the lights between Pacific and the Pkwy that is causing all the problems.

To head home, I took the back route over to Rt 606/Old Ox, and jumped on the Greenway, took me 5 minutes to Claiborne. I figure I was home before many of those people I passed heading toward the Post Office. !!



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

[afgm]

I find it odd, Delegate Black hasn't stepped forward and taken credit for this piece of work. Guess he picks and chooses which projects to steal credit for. Smart man. Scary man.

[exrook]

quote:Originally posted by neilz


However, a way to avoid that altogether for the next 4 to 8 months is to take the Greedway, er, Greenway right to Broadlands.

I know an hour of my time is worth the $1.75 !!


Since the rates went up in September, it is now $2.75 (Peak) and $2.35 (non-Peak).

[mdr227]

No matter what the interchange does to relieve traffic or not on 28, the major bottleneck is still going to be Waxpool Rd. between 28 and Ash. Village Blvd. It has been this way for years. They really should make it 6 lanes all the way to this interchange and not just LCP. However, having 6 lanes to LCP with one being a left turn only lane will help once the new bridge is opened. However, as LCP is paved to Rt 7 and the Brambleton area continues to develop along with the 16 screen movie theatre due to open in a little more than a year things along LCP are going to get progressively worse. Luckily they have done the smart thing and built the road large enough to be able to handle a much larger volume. A cloverleaf interchange at LCP and Waxpool would open things up nicely. However, I know there will never be funding for that.

[flynnibus]

lets face it.. as important as waxpool is to us.. it seems as if the county planners wished no one would use it.

We are getting all these north south corridors improved (LCP, 28, etc) .. and yet east to west still only has limited choices which all are horrible. Rt 7.. overcrowded.. Greenway.. private shouldn't be considered.. Rt 50.. too far south.. Waxpool.. perfect location.. red-headed stepchild

Does the county really think people should use Rt 50 to go westward from the Toll Corridor? It really seems the County treats the Greenway as a 'required' road instead of the optional bypass it should be.

-Steve

[neilz]

quote:Originally posted by exrook

quote:Originally posted by neilz


However, a way to avoid that altogether for the next 4 to 8 months is to take the Greedway, er, Greenway right to Broadlands.

I know an hour of my time is worth the $1.75 !!


Since the rates went up in September, it is now $2.75 (Peak) and $2.35 (non-Peak).


Don't forget an additional ten cents off for the SmartTag ... even so, I get paid more than $2.75 an hour, so spending perhaps 5.5% of an hours pay is worth the use of the Toll Road .. shoot, many of us pay more than that at Starbucks for a cuppa !!



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

[volvo_nut]

Perhaps they should have held off and kept the left turning lanes on to Waxpool. At least it gave a chance for the traffic to get past Pacific. Now it is a constant flow and backs up even worse.

Trafffic leaving Wegmans was only made worse and this past weekend when Loudoun county cops were making folks turn right and do a u-turn at the Nissan dealer.

Maybe we'll be happy that baseball will be in D.C. and not Dulles, the additional traffic for a Monday night game could have been really ugly.

[DAD4]

For the last couple of weeks I have been taking the toll road, exit 28N, and hitting this interchange to exit onto Waxpool. (I hit the interchange @ approx. 5:30 P.M.) I have to say that traffic is flowing rather smoothly. They seem to really have gotten the Waxpool lights in sync. Also the Fairfax Wegmans is due to open sometime in February. I believe that this will also help this area, considering everyone that I know from Fairfax travels up here to shop at Wegmans.

I tried Waxpool to 28S this morning. WHAT A MESS!

[snoopy]

I have to agree ... Been getting on Waxpool from 28 around 5 PM - 5:30 PM and traffic light seems to work with you instead of against you !! [8D] I'm home from Herndon office in less than 20 minutes ... not a bad commute !!

[wahoogeek]

Here is an email I received in response to my email about the Waxpool backup. I have a feeling that they received plenty of emails/calls about the congestion.

-----
The opening of the Route 28/625 Interchange removed the most dangerous
intersection in all of Loudoun County, in terms of accidents, and
relieved
a severe bottleneck along the Route 28 corridor. By eliminating this
chokepoint on 28, traffic is flowing more freely to the Waxpool and
Church
Road corridors resulting in the congestion that you have experienced.

The 28 project Team, including Route 28 LLC, VDOT, Loudoun County
Office of
Transportation, and the Sheriff's office, have been working together
since
the interchange opening to improve upon the congestion issue,
particularly
along Waxpool Road. First, construction is continuing to widen Waxpool
Road
from 4 to 6 lanes out to Loudoun County Parkway. Depending on the
weather
this winter, we should have this widening completed this Spring.

Second, we have been monitoring the congestion problems practically
every
day since the opening and found that for the most part, traffic is
flowing
more freely throughout the area than it did before. The exception
appears
to the evening rush hour along Waxpool from about 5:30 to 6:45 when the
traffic volumes are greatest. The cause seems to be the signals at
Pacific,
Broderick, Loudoun County Parkway, and Smith Switch Rd. To improve upon
this, we have continually adjusted the signal timings at these 4
intersections in an effort to get traffic flowing more freely. The last
significant adjustment occurred on January 6th, so we are watching
conditions this week to gauge the results. We also installed cameras
last
week at these intersections to get real time reports of traffic issues.

Several other improvements have been implemented or are under review.
An
additional left turn lane was installed for southbound Pacific to
eastbound
Waxpool. For northbound Pacific (from AOL), we are reviewing whether we
can
safely install duel left and right turn lanes onto Waxpool. We are also
reviewing whether we can install an additional thru lane along
westbound
Waxpool at Pacific. In the longer term, construction is underway to
complete Loudoun County Parkway from Redskins Park to Route 7. This
alternate north/south corridor should help to ultimately relieve some
of
the volume along 28/Waxpool.

Commercial Drive intersection at Route 28 was closed in order to
complete
construction of the ramps for the interchange and in accordance with
the
State's policy for "limited access" along Route 28. Originally
constructed
by the developer of Dulles 28 Center, the intersection was allowed as a
proffer by the County and VDOT only as a temporary condition until such
time as the 28/625 interchange was built. There are plans currently
underway by the County and VDOT to extend Pacific Blvd. to the north to
Severn Way.

The 28 Team is working diligently to improve upon conditions throughout
the
area. If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely-

Jon Harman
Development Manager
Route 28 Corridor Improvements, LLC

[WesGurney]

Great info! Thanks for posting. Sounds like this Spring is when they will be complete with the Waxpool widening portion of the project.

I am hoping this will fix the problems we have all been seeing.

(keeping fingers crossed) :-)