In case you didn’t notice, the construction has begun to connect Battlefield Parkway in Leesburg between Kincaid Forest Boulevard and Route 7 at Potomac Station. The official date for the work to start was January 24th, but the only thing I noticed that day was a few trees starting to quiver and fall on the Route 7 side. (Admittedly, I didn’t visit the Kincaid side that day). Coming up to it on the Kincaid side, (pictured on the left) it looks like a very steep drop-off where the road ends, and there are only a few orange barrels marking it…so be careful! *Edit: when I took the picture today, it looked like there were more of those fence-type blockades there, so maybe that situation has changed.*
Since my office is located at the shopping center with Best Buy and Giant Foods on the Route 7 side, I’m excited at the prospect of being able to easily reach the Tavistock Farms/Stratford/Kincaid Forest side of Leesburg when the work is completed. According to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the work will cost $35 million and should be completed in late 2009. It will include a four lane highway, two bridges (over the W&OD trail and over Tuscarora Creek), a “10-foot shared-use path parallel to the road”, retaining walls, and a noise barrier wall. If you would like more information on the project, visit www.battlefieldparkway.com ; they have maps, photos, and updates on the work being completed.
Fingers crossed that all proceeds on schedule!
Cheers,
Heather