The Virginia Department of Transportation has completed several safety improvements ahead of schedule on a heavily traveled section of Route 15 north of Leesburg.

The improvements feature center turn lanes, rumble strips and a truck pull-off area made of a new skidproof surface.

These improvements, built in a one-mile section of Route 15 between Limestone School Road and Spinks Ferry Road, will keep traffic moving and minimize rear-end collisions where cars stop to turn left.

“This will also help in alleviating backups on this portion of the roadway,” said Construction Manager David Fitzgerald.

A truck pull-off area was created for use by the Virginia State Police, which also provides an area for motorists to use in emergencies.

A red granite gravel coating is a high friction, skid resistant surface to facilitate shorter stopping distances for cars and trucks.

This coating was used in the truck pull-off area, center turn lanes and transition areas opposite left turn lanes, instead of ordinarily used chevron striping.

Blending these safety improvements in with the surrounding environment was important.

Engineers collaborated with the community and came up with several aesthetically pleasing features that fit in well with the natural landscape.

These additions include:

• A roadside native hedgerow



• Gravel shoulders topped with grass



• A weathered steel guardrail



• Two dozen varieties indigenous trees

The trees include 523 red twig dogwoods planted as a screen behind the truck enforcement area, and 25 native species planted south of Limestone School Road and north of Montressor Road.

The $4.6 million project began in December 2006.

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Page last modified: Nov. 28, 2007