12 Dec 2013

NAO-2009-1851

Expiration date: 1/13/2014

Loudon County and Virginia Department of Transportation, or VDOT, propose to improve traffic flow and alleviate traffic delays at the intersection of Route 7 and Route 659. This project would support the County’s goal of widening Route 7 to eight lanes and includes a single-point urban interchange, which would carry Route 659 over Route 7. A single traffic signal would be installed above the single-point interchange on the bridge deck, and all turning movements would be adequately accommodated by the interchange. Route 659 is proposed to include a four-lane divided roadway with a wide median to accommodate future widening to six lanes in the median. The need for an interchange at the existing intersection is evident from existing travel patterns, peak hour delays, and backups (queues) at the existing signal. The proposed work will permanently impact 0.397 ac. of nontidal forested wetlands, 0.156 ac. of nontidal emergent wetlands, 0.013 ac. of nontidal open water wetlands, 1994 linear feet of streams. In addition, the proposed work will result in temporary impacts to 0.012 ac. of nontidal emergent wetlands, 0.007 ac. of nontidal open water wetlands and 275 linear feet of streams.