Road Construction Delays

This is why we haven't seen anything being done on Belmont Ridge. Thanks Richmond.

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0704/162190.html

 

Speaking of road construction...does anyone know what the plans are for completing the extension of Claiborne Parkway and the connecting Comus Road (I think that's what it's called)? And will the paved walkway and streetlights be included there as well?

It looks like they're flattening things out, getting things ready so just curious.

 

What are they doing to belmont ridge? I see they have been expanding the number of lanes where it meets rt 7... anything else?

 

Belmont ridge will eventually be a 6 lane highway connecting 7 to evergreen mill ( it may even be going all the way to rt 50, but I have to check on that) they are suppose to be starting the first phase now but because of lack of money that is being put on hold

 

I don't think they added any lanes, just made the second lane longer.
It hasn't helped.

 

Let's even be more precise. Thanks Delegate Dick Black. For nothing. He's to busy running his social agenda and has no credibility or influence over things that are important to us all like roads, and education. He screwed up the state education budget for us just like this road issue.

 

uh, he's a republican, what did you expect?

8)

 

Does anyone know where you can get online information about how the roads are to be aligned,etc.. in Loudoun. There are a few new ones in places that I cant tell how they are going to finally end up.

 

No one knows where they'll finally end up. It's just a loose plate of cooked spaghetti.

 

Very true ... the original path of Claiborne to Rt 7, was directly through the Belmont Country Club subdivision. Toll Brothers successfully presented its case to the planning commission that this would tear up its golf course alignment, plus lose some rather expensive homesites. Thus it was approved to move that alignment to what will basically parallel Ashburn Road with only a 1/6 of a mile or less between them.

Then again, many of the roads are aligned according to the original farms and pastures that were in place for years. I believe Waxpool is a case in point. It did weave in and around large farms from Rt 28 west to finally wind up at Belmont Ridge. I understand from some of the long-time residents of old Ashburn town, that what is now Farmwell/Ashburn Farm Road was dairy farm pasture, and basically a cow path.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

Does anyone know when we will be able to get to the toll road via the road near the Southern Walk pool?

 

Neilz,

Thanks for the info. Here is what I know beyond what you've written.

Claiborne will extend beyond the current dead end, at the W&OD, continuing the route you mentioned and end with a full cloverleaf on Route 7. Clearing for the cloverleaf has already begun on the South side of 7. A significant portion of the Claiborne road extension is complete.

Ashburn Road, currently taking traffic to 7, will be closed and become a cul-de-sac. The closing of Ashburn Road has been planned for a long time, before the request by Toll Brothers to move Claiborne.

The W&OD is going to pass over Claiborne, via a bridge. Currently bikes and pedestrians access the trail by a path on the west side of Claiborne. This will be moved somewhat but will basically be unchanged.

There will be a bridge construction access path used on the east side of Claiborne. Northern VA Park Authority wants this path to be made permanent. The hope is to have two access points to the W&OD the existing one from the west side, and this new path on the east side. NVPA needs to have the county agree to assume maintenance of the trail for this to happen. Mention this to County officials when you have a chance.

Personnally, I am pushing for access from both sides. Beyond convenience, it will keep bikers from having to potentially cross Claiborne to gain access to the trail. It is a safety issue.

Add to this the plan to connect the bike trail from Broadlands to Ashburn Farm, going under the Greenway.

 

Now if you can explain why the commonwealth decided it was ok to rename roads at 90 degree turns.

 

I find this odd also. I am definitely for maintaining the old historic cross-county routes like Waxpool, so why insert at 90 degree turn into it at Farmwell Hunt? There is more than enough room at Waxpool/Farmwell for Waxpool to have curved behind the MCI site without making a 90 degree turn, then Farmwell could have been the 90 degree turn instead. The same is true for the Waxpool/Truro Parish. The Broadlands developers could have smoothed out Waxpool instead of having the Montessori school in its current location, and Truro Parish would have been a 90 degree turn.

Also, is there any plan to rename or close the "old" Ryan road at the intersection of Waxpool and Shellhorn, now that "new" Ryan road comes over the Greenway and continues to Ashburn Farm Parkway... and will that route (from the Greenway to Route 7) ever be redesignated Route 772. From what I can tell now, Route 772 essentially ends when Ryan Road hits the Greenway coming from Brambleton, then picks up again as "old" Ryan road to Shellhorn and Waxpool, then ends.

On a slightly related subject, does anyone know of a good source for historic maps of Loudoun County that would show the old farms and county road routes? I enjoy collecting historic maps of places I have lived.

 

I believe in this case, Waxpool was the main road, and then Farmwell was a side road (not named Farmwell at the time). As the Village and other subdivisions were added, the side road became the main road.

The road at Waxpool/Truro Parish is the original road and was not paved as it is now up to the ballfield, and all the property lining that road (excepting the public and private schools) are properties that are not part of the Broadlands

I would need to verify that with a few people at Ashburn Presbyterian Church, as many of our older members have been here since the 30's.





Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

This is another case of Northern Virginia taxpayers, taking it up the butt for everyone living in the rest of the state. I would bet good money, dollar for dollar, that NOVA is a big percentage of state revenue. Too bad we don't see more of that money coming back for roads and other improvements.

Feeling kicked in the nards once again,

Steven

 

When we constantly read about road projects being cancelled or delayed due to lack of funds I keep thinking back to that .5% tax increase proposal that was so soundly voted down that would have provided much of the funding for these needed projects in NoVA. What is another 50 cents on every $100 spent? Most people pay a $2 ATM fee without thinking twice to withdraw far less money or pay the $5 tolls to drive back and forth on the Greenway. Assuming your family spends $500 per week on food and other taxable items that is just $2.50 extra per week. Instead we can all stay stuck in traffic and continue to see fatal accidents on roads that should have been improved, but are not because of lack of funding.

 

People would be more than happy to pay an extra .5% if they knew it would actually ease congestion. The problem is politicians have a nasty habit of raising taxes for one cause then finding something else to spend the extra revenue on. Then you also have the people who claim raising taxes hurts lower income folks. All of us have already been hammered by the increase in property tax. I loved how the government bragged about lowering the tax rate from $1.11 to $1.1075. They then increase the assessment so this "tax break" has cost the people of Loudoun County millions of dollars. Where is that money going? What about the tax we pay at the pump? In other words we are already paying more but things haven't changed. What would make us think paying even more would make any difference?
IMHO Loudoun County and Richmond need to better manage revenue and cut the pork before asking us to shell out more.

 

jtarnow,

I enjoy looking at some of the older aerial photos of the area... even ones from the late 80s are almost unrecognizable.

Check out these links:

Intersection of old Ryan/Waxpool/Shellhorn
http://terraserver.microsoft.com/ad...=39.0425498572011&w=2&ref=A|Ashburn, Virginia scroll north and you'll see the beginnings of the high school and some of the single family homes..

This is a view of the whole area... bottom right cross of roads is the above intersection, with beaverdam reservior or whatever to the west:

http://terraserver.microsoft.com/ad...=39.0425498572011&w=2&ref=A|Ashburn,+Virginia

pretty cool to look into the past... and somewhat depressing as well ...

Here are the 2002 aerial views... BUT they don't go that far west of MCI for some reason

http://terraserver.microsoft.com/ad...=39.0253528492406&w=2&ref=A|Ashburn,+Virginia

 

Boy that first one is really interesting, and depressing at the same time. I presume that "Flynn's Crossing", which is now the name of that apartment complex near the Home Depot, refers to this old rural intersection, and that farmer Flynn owned most of the surrounding land. Does anyone know more about this immediate area?

I also find it interesting that the hamlet of farmhomes in that area used to be known as "Ryan" just like the small collection of homes on the unpaved section of Waxpool Road used to be known on maps as "Waxpool" (hence the road names, leading to each from elsewhere). I assume that the US Postal Service just decided to lump all of it with Ashburn at some point... more lost history.

Sorry for being off-topic. Perhaps we can pick this up elsewhere if anyone has more thoughts.