Belmont Ridge Road now goes over the W&OD Trail

Last month, a new bridge opened over the W&OD Trail in Leesburg, turning an at-grade crossing at Belmont Ridge Road into a grade-separated one. 

“For those on the trail, it’s one less interruption to their rides and runs.”

The bridge will carry one lane of traffic in the south and northbound direction. Once the southbound span is built, it will become a four lane bridge with two lanes in each direction.

The new bridge is expected to be a huge safety improvement, as the former at-grade trail crossing put cyclists and pedestrians on a potential collision path.

This is just the north-bound bridge, a southbound bridge is being built as well. The project will later build 10' wide shared-use paths along both sides of the road between Hay Road and Gloucester Parkway in Loudoun County.

Additionally, a new parking lot for trail users is being constructed

Oh, and this bridge opened 3.5 months early. The whole project is to be completed in Winter 2018.

Comments

[Kolohe]

I am impressed and genuinely surprised. Kudos to the design and construction teams. And being proactive by not waiting for the entire project to be done before opening the bridge, making grade separation arrive as soon as possible

(does anyone know if the Wiehle ave bridge has started yet? I haven't been that far west since early summer)

[KW]

Wiehle is in the early design phase. Now they're saying 2024

[DE]

This is a great improvement for cyclists, pedestrians, and drivers. I only get out that way a few times a year, but it was a tough intersection when traffic was heavy. Look forward to seeing it in the next few weeks.