Loudoun County—The Virginia Department of Transportation broke ground on the first major state-built roundabouts in Northern Virginia today, in an effort to slow traffic and improve safety at the intersection of Route 50 and Route 15 in Loudoun County.

This $15.8 million project will be completed in fall 2009 and includes roundabouts at:

• Gilbert’s Corner (intersection of Route 50 and Route 15)
• Intersection of Route 50 and Watson Road
• Route 50 and a new connector road
• Route 15 and a new connector road

The new two-lane connector road will link Routes 50 and 15 with roundabouts at each end, allowing traffic on northbound Route 15 and westbound Route 50 to bypass Gilbert's Corner. Under a design-build contract with Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. and The Lane Construction Corporation, the design and construction were closely coordinated to reduce the time and cost of the project.

“These roundabouts will be a big improvement to the intersection at Gilbert’s Corner,” said Billy Green, VDOT senior construction manager. “This project represents a tremendous amount of work by the Route 50 Task Force to preserve the rural environment and address the safety concerns on Route 50.”

The Gilbert’s Corner roundabouts are the second of three Route 50 traffic calming projects along a 20-mile corridor from Paris in Fauquier County to Lenah in Loudoun County. Improvements in Upperville were finished in December 2007, and a similar project in Aldie is expected in late 2009.

Roundabouts are considered one of the safest types of intersection, moving traffic while reducing crashes, delays, fuel consumption, air pollution, and maintenance costs. More information on Virginia roundabouts, including an instructional video and printable brochure are available at www.virginiadot.org/info/faq-roundabouts.asp. Route 50 project information is available at www.Route50.org and www.VirginiaDOT.org.

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Senator Warner speaks to guests at the Gilbert's Corner groundbreaking.

Distinguished guests officially break ground on four roundabouts at Gilbert's
Corner (intersection of Route 50 & Route 15) in Loudoun County.

The project includes roundabouts at (1) Gilbert's Corner, (2) Route 50 and
a new connector road, (3) Route 50 and Watson Road, and (4) Route 15
and the new connector road.