Do You Support a Potomac River Crossing at Route 28?
Del. Minchew announces plans to submit a bill to study the feasibility of constructing a new bridge connecting I-66 and I-270.
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During a Jan. 3 meeting between the Loudoun Board of Supervisors and the county's delegation to the Virginia General Assembly, Del. Randy Minchew (R-10) told supervisors that he planned to push a bill that would study the feasibility of constructing a new bridge across the Potomac River.
"I think that the truth of the matter is that we need to have another bridge crossing of the Potomac between the Point of Rocks Bridge at Route 15 and the American Legion Bridge at 495 in Fairfax County," Minchew told supervisors. "My personal belief is the only one that makes sense is Route 28 north into Maryland where it can hook up to the Intercounty connector and Interstate 270."
Minchew said the possibility of connecting Interstates 66 and 270 could make such a new crossing eligible for the federal Eisenhower Interstate System. It would also provide easier access to BWI Airport for Virginia and Dulles Airport for Virginians as well as connect the technology corridor between the two states.
"I'm not saying that it doesn't have some obstacles to it," Minchew said, referring to cost and opposition from Maryland. "But I think the time has come to appeciate that we need that bridge crossing and I don't see any other geographically sound site for having that bridge crossing."
What do you think? Take our poll and submit your comments below.
Libby
1:40 pm on Tuesday, January 3, 2012
I also support Rail to Dulles. I really hope the new Board doesn't dtich that project...
Alan
1:43 pm on Tuesday, January 3, 2012
I'm optimistic about the project.
Lisa
2:04 pm on Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Unfortunately for Minchew's proposal, there are Loudoun County neighborhoods in between the terminus of Rt 28 and Maryland.
V. Nilsov
5:54 pm on Tuesday, January 3, 2012
@Lisa,
Unfortunately for the the neighborhoods, that is where eminent domain and bulldozers come in. It is never fun, but the Fairfax County Parkway would be a good example of how sometimes you just need the road more.
Nathaniel Hix
6:32 am on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
The real problem is Maryland. There are a lot of rich folks on the Maryland side between that hypothetical bridge and I-270. Also, Maryland won't want to make access to Dulles Airport easier for people. They want people to use BWI.
Randy Rawson
10:11 am on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
A study is a study; it will highlight cost issues and eminent domain issues and then a decision can be made. Money -- for both right-of-way access and construction costs -- will be the issue...from whence will it come? But a study is a grand idea that should be pursued expeditiously. For every year it is delayed, costs will increase exponentially.
D Hart
12:15 pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
This proposal makes a ton of sense and I would use it regularly to commute to the Baltimore area...so its not likely to come to fruition in my lifetime!
Jeanne Mullahy
5:32 pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
I think this is sorely needed and it would give us a much quicker access to BWI and vice versa to DUL. Not sure of the property north of Rt 28 before you get to the Potomac and how this would be affected - I welcome the study to find out!
Marcus Aurelius
8:17 pm on Wednesday, January 4, 2012
If this is an indication of the type of initiative that Del. Minchew is proposing, I fear for the well-being of Loudoun. This is NOT the first priority of transportation improvement that this county needs. And, of course, there is the small matter of families who will be displaced and communities disrupted.
Jonathan Erickson
7:34 am on Thursday, January 5, 2012
Eminent domain should be on the same list with hitler and the n word!
LUTHER C. WILLIAMS
11:27 am on Thursday, January 5, 2012
GREAT IDEA. THE SOONER THE BETTER.
Zack
3:41 pm on Thursday, January 5, 2012
To be taken seriously as a reporter, you should probably learn to run spell-check on your story before posting. Pretty sure appeciate isn't a word. Additionally, I believe the article meant to state that it would provide easier access to Dulles Airport for Marylanders, not Virginians, since I don't think driving over the river into Maryland and then back into Virginia simplifies the process. #editorfail
Mike Smith
4:35 pm on Thursday, January 5, 2012
As part of this analysis they should also look into replacing the ferry near Leesburg with a small bridge. Continuing to use a ferry instead of a bridge for that crossing no longer makes sense.
Marcus Aurelius
3:39 am on Friday, January 6, 2012
Don't need a study for that one, Mike. That ferry is just as much a part of the historic cache as the dirt roads of western Loudoun.
Mike Smith
2:30 pm on Saturday, January 7, 2012
Marcus - True. While I hate to replace things of a historical nature I think this one makes sense. Replacing the ferry with a car and small truck (ex: cargo vans) EZPass only bridge that costs $1-2 each way (with discounts for same day roundtrips) would make sense. Unlike the ferry the bridge would be able to operate 24x7, wouldn't have to close when there's high water, and it wouldn't require someone to staff it.
David F
4:40 pm on Thursday, January 5, 2012
No mention if this road would be a tollway. Also the Potomac River in that area is a protected scenic waterway which would literally take an act of Congress to change in order to build a new bridge. First stomach the increases in the Dulles Tollway in the next few years to see if you want to pay more tolls.
Jonathan Erickson
5:47 pm on Thursday, January 5, 2012
Study sounds nice. How much will it cost and what's the time frame for study completion? How about paying on some school debt or the metro overruns instead of acquiring new debts at this time?
Michael S.
1:57 pm on Monday, January 9, 2012
I think the proposed bridge is an awful idea. Considering the expense of a bridge and the lack of VA daily commuters, I think that amount of money could be better spent on roads in and out of the traffic jam that is Ashburn, widening 15, or perhaps purchasing greenway and lowering/eliminating tolls.
Jason
5:38 pm on Friday, January 27, 2012
The bridge should have been built years ago. It will help the flow of traffic all around the area, especially in an out of Ashburn. It will also greatly lighten the load of travelers on 15 North which should be at least 6 lanes but thanks to the rich folks that live along it and receive tax breaks for it being a senic biway that hasn't happened yet. LET US NOT forget the Loudoun ONE is underway and we need more infrastructure to handle the added traffic.
Marcus Aurelius
11:55 am on Saturday, January 28, 2012
LET US NOT FORGET that the One Loudoun Holdings, LLC – a venture of Miller & Smith and NORTH AMERICA SEKISUI HOUSE, should have provided proffers to mitigate this increase in traffic. It is certainly a matter for our new BOS to look at.
Jonathan Erickson
1:08 pm on Saturday, January 28, 2012
Delegate Minchews expertise? Eminent domain, kinda of sounds like a hired gun.
Dev
10:05 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Great idea !!! This will distribute the traffic stress on I495 ... I completely support for this project ...
joe brewer
6:49 am on Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Minchew seems like a one trick pony. He keeps after this crossing at Route 28 when studies have shown that 60% or more of the traffic would be induced and provide more congestion not less.Must be for personal gain that he continues to push these studies and particular crossing at 28. Is he taking the no vote by the BOS and bypassing our Supervisor's vote? It looks like a end run. You cannot build it in Broadrun Farms unless you tear apart the neighborhood and upset the pollution at the Hidden Lane landfill Supersite which will dump TCE into the Potomac and destroy the wells. A bridge would cost over a billion dollars guess where that money will come from? More tolls, yikes!