Potomac Bridge Study Divides Loudoun Board

Supervisors get parochial about location of proposed bridge crossing.

The possibility of studying a new bridge across the Potomac seems to have supervisors at odds about which proposed locations should be up for consideration. Earlier this year Del. Randy Minchew (R-10) proposed the state study the possibility of extending Route 28 north across the Potomac to connect with Maryland’s Interstate 270 with Interstate 66 in Virginia. And while that proposal died in committee, supervisors are trying to decide whether to support renewed legislation next year to study the span. Supervisor Suzanne Volpe (R-Algonkian) during this week’s board meeting pointed out some concerns about crossing the river north of Route 28, in particular the existing Broad Run Farms community. “In the committee meeting it went down in …

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Repairs After Bus Accident Cost Less Than $200

No serious injuries were reported following the Feb. 8 accident.

The school bus accident that occurred on Belmont Ridge Road Feb. 8 resulted in less than $200 in damages. One student was taken to the hospital after complaining of soreness, but no serious injuries were reported from the accident. As described in a Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office accident report, as one bus heading southbound on Belmont Ridge came to a stop at the Route 7 traffic signal another bus failed to stop and struck the first bus. According to information provided by Loudoun County Public Schools, the incident involved two buses: B657 and B161. Bus B161 did not require repair, while B657 required $183.14 in repairs. School administrators reported to the scene after the accident and both buses continued on their afterschool routes …

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Belmont Ridge Shut Down Monday Night After Collision

Recent incidents in Ashburn as reported by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office.

Auto Crash Shuts Down Belmont Ridge: A dump truck loaded with asphalt traveling north on Belmont Ridge Road near Route 7 at 10:17 p.m. Sept. 12 crossed the double yellow line and struck a tow truck. The tow truck then struck a minivan head on. The dump truck continued north on the road and into a wooded area. Deputies closed Belmont Ridge Road for more than four hours while heavy wreckers removed the dump truck from the woods. The dump truck sustained heavy frontend damage. There were no serious injuries reported. The crash remains under investigation. Larceny: Two bicycles were reported taken from the front porch of a residence on the 43500 block of Plantation Terrace between 8 p.m. Sept. 3 and 8 a.m. Sept. 4. Larceny: A person selling a …

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W&OD and Belmont Ridge: Bicyclists and Motorists Play Dangerous Odds

Zigzag lines should convey caution in motorists, while cyclists must obey stop signs. Both often shun such precautions.

For many cyclists on the W&OD trail, the crossing at Belmont Ridge Road is one of the scariest intersections to negotiate on the entire trail due to the speed of vehicles and the steady flow of traffic. For motorists, the zigzagged lines are confusing and the intersection appears after somewhat of a blind corner from at least one direction. The big question is when are motorists expected to slow down, stop or yield to cyclists and pedestrians? “Belmont Ridge is probably one of the most dangerous intersections on the whole 50-mile W&OD trail,” explained Pat Turner, co-founder of Bike Loudoun, vice president of Friends of the W&OD Trail and member of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority. For …

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Pat Shafer

7:28 am on Sunday, May 20, 2012

Paul, actually, bicyclists do not have to dismount to have the right-of-way. The Code of Virginia is very clear about this: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?000+cod+46.2-904 "A person riding a bicycle . . . on a sidewalk, shared-use path, or across a roadway on a crosswalk, shall have all the rights and duties of a pedestrian under the same circumstances." Clearly, the code requires …   more ›

Belmont Ridge Open After Crash Closed Road in Ashburn

UPDATE 5:20 p.m. — Belmont Ridge Road is open again. UPDATE 5:15 p.m. – Traffic appears to be moving. Belmont Ridge Road has been cleaned up and traffic lanes should reopen soon after an accident at Luck Road near Belmont Greene shut down traffic in both directions. At least three cars were involved. Cars were seen passing through after the cleanup, but no announcement yet on whether road is open and Google Maps still shows delays.

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