11/14/11

Barrier battle continues; council set to vote on removal | LoudounTimes.com

Mobile Website | Login | Register

Staff Directory | Advertise | Subscribe | About Us Advanced Search

S E A R CH

News

Opinions

Sports

Entertainment

Blogs

Video

Classifieds

Advertise

Barrier battle continues; council set to vote on removal

Monday, Nov. 14, 2011 by Laura Peters | 0 comments | Email this story

0
The barrier at Catoctin Circle and North Street is set to go to a vote on its removal on Nov. 15. Times-Mirror Staff Photo/ Laura Peters

Most Popular in News

Leesburg Town Council once again discussed the Lowenbach barrier dilemma during a Nov. 14 work session. The issue has left residents of two neighborhoods on both sides of the fence when it comes to removing the barrier or keeping it in place. The two neighborhoods dealing with the barrier are Exeter Hills and Lowenbach. Exeter Hills started development in 1992. Barricades were placed on the north and south sides within Lowenbach for street improvements. Residents of both neighborhoods spoke to council on Sept. 18; some want the barricades to stay in place, while others want them to be removed. Lowenbach is between Edwards Ferry Road and North Street, and Exeter Hills is north of Lowenbach. The barricade on Catoctin Circle, Queen and Washington streets were the only barricades that remained standing in 1995 because of a resolution council passed for more road improvements. The barriers remain on Washington and Queen streets and Catoctin Circle. Residents have spent the last several months petitioning council over the barrier. Woodberry Road, Prince Street and soon-to-be Catoctin serve as thoroughfares between Edwards Ferry Road and North Street, and residents are concerned with the flow of traffic on their roads. There was a public input session on Nov. 2 at Ida Lee where more than 60 residents attended to ask questions about the barrier. According to Anne Geiger, senior engineer for Leesburgs Department of Capital Projects, the barrier should be removed. Before the barrier is open though, Geiger said here should be a fourway stop sign placed at Catoctin and Blue Ridge Avenue along with speed limit/driver feedback signs. Catoctin Circle takes the majority of the traffic, Geiger said on removing the barrier. Catoctin has been designed to take the amount of traffic it will get. The two speed limit/driver feedback signs suggested to be placed would cost the town $30,000

Tuesday, Nov. 8 | 29643 views

UPDATED: County Election 2011 final unofficial results

Wednesday, Nov. 9 | 12283 views

Change on board turns Loudoun from purple to red

Wednesday, Nov. 9 | 11584 views

Chapman unseats Simpson for sheriff, Plowman reelected as commonwealths attorney

Wednesday, Nov. 9 | 11224 views

Incumbents fall, new school board chosen

Tuesday, Nov. 8 | 7964 views

Live blog: Election Day morning, afternoon coverage

Stay Connected

Follow Us on Twitter News | Sports

loudountimes.com//barrier_battle_continues_council_to_set_to_vote_on_barrier_removal123/

1/3

3 meesil 2 3r_ao / 2lrina. 1_ntn aoori/t o_m vr eol_u _scc e_m aub btttieo /eeio _ottu n_e ocld _ur ot_r rc / vs n b

mvotti1 ment1 oetta4 Toe 1 eotcr1 meir 1 cnnl / sioB / nvb u|na oele drcr ulsi; ou Lc au .s oo
The two speed limit/driver feedback signs suggested to be placed would cost the town $30,000 that would be funded through the fiscal 2012-2017 budgets Capital Improvements Project, according to the town. The installation of both would take about three weeks. I do support closing Prince and Woodberry so we can accelerate construction, Council member Ken Reid said. I think its only fair since we did it to Catoctin.
Like Us on Facebook News & Sports

A traffic study completed in 1995 said there were about 15,000 to 17,000 vehicles a day on the 100 block of Catoctin Circle. Today, there are about 1,335 on the 100 block Catoctin and 755 on the 100 block of Washington, according to Geiger. Since Prince Street is next to be barricaded for construction in spring 2012, residents say that if Catoctin stays barricaded, then Woodberry Road would get all the traffic. My biggest concern is overall safety, clearly if we open up Catoctin to six times the amount of traffic it will become less safe on Catoctin and more safe on others that are closed, Council member Dave Butler said.

Subscribe via RSS News | Sports

Join Our Email List Sign up for weekly updates

According to the town, the traffic will increase during each portion of construction, depending on what streets are closed at certain times, but not substantially.

According to the town, if Prince Street is barricaded completely from through traffic, the project could take three months less to complete. Theres been a council promise that the barrier would not be open until all construction is done, there was a resolution. It was all going to be done at the same time, but not in its phasing, Council member Katie Hammler said. According to the town, tearing up five streets at once was not the right way to approach the issue. An ad-hoc committee was put in place with residents from both neighborhoods and the town approached them with their phase plan. Construction on Queen and Washington streets is slated to start in the summer of 2013. Blue Ridge Avenue will be completed in segments. The entire project is expected to be completed by summer of 2014. There was a set of expectations from the neighbors that these barriers would stay in put, Hammler said. I think weve acknowledged the fact that we need to be proactive about traffic enforcement in this area. Although Hammler acknowledged the expectations from the residents, she said she will motion on Nov. 15 to have the barrier removed if the two traffic suggestions the town made are put in place first. Much of council echoed Hammlers sentiments. There will be a public hearing on the Lowenbach community during a Nov. 15 council meeting at 7:30 p.m. A decision is slated to be made on the barrier issue at that time.
The Loudoun Times-Mirror

is an interactive, digital replica of the printed newspaper. Open the e-edition now.

View our other print publications available online.

0
MUTCD Manuals
www.AGC.org

Weekly Homes Guide

2011 Guide to Loudoun

Senior Lifestyles

Get the Revised Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices - Low Price
Health and Wellness Bridal Guide Historic Frederick Maryland

Comments

Be the first to post a comment!

Taste of Loudoun Comments express only the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of this website or any associated person or entity. Any user who believes a message is objectionable can contact us at moderator@timespapers.com. Home and Garden Historic Downtown Leesburg

Post a comment
Anyone can post a comment. Registration is not required. By submitting a comment, you agree to our Terms of Service.

Health Resolutions

Future Leaders

Coming Soon

Name (required):

E-mail (required):