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

The barrier at CatoctinCircle and North Street isset to go to a vote on itsremoval on Nov. 15.Times-Mirror Staff Photo/Laura Peters

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 itcomes to removing the barrier or keeping it in place.

The two neighborhoods dealing with the barrier are Exeter Hills and Lowenbach. Exeter Hillsstarted development in 1992. Barricades were placed on the north and south sides withinLowenbach 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 thatremained 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 betweenEdwards Ferry Road and North Street, and residents are concerned with the flow of traffic ontheir roads. There was a public input session on Nov. 2 at Ida Lee where more than 60 residentsattended to ask questions about the barrier.

 According to Anne Geiger, senior engineer for Leesburg’s Department of Capital Projects, the barrier should be removed. Before the barrier is open though, Geiger said here should be a four- way 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. “Catoctinhas been designed to take the amount of traffic it will get.”

 

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Barrier battle continues; council set to vote on removal

8/3/2019 Barrier Battle Continues; Council Set to Vote on Removal _ LoudounTimes

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11/14/11Barrierbattlecontouncil set tovote

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The two speed limit/driver feedback signs suggested to be placed would cost the town $30,000that would be funded through the fiscal 2012-2017 budget’s 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,” Councilmember Ken Reid said. “I think it’s only fair since we did it to Catoctin.”

 A traffic study completed in 1995 said there were about 15,000 to 17,000 vehicles a day on the100 block of Catoctin Circle. Today, there are about 1,335 on the 100 block Catoctin and 755 onthe 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,” Councilmember Dave Butler said.

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

 According to the town, if Prince Street is barricaded completely from through traffic, the projectcould take three months less to complete.

“There’s 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 theissue. An ad-hoc committee was put in place with residents from both neighborhoods and thetown approached them with their phase plan.

Construction on Queen and Washington streets is slated to start in the summer of 2013. BlueRidge 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 we’ve acknowledged the fact that we need to be proactive about trafficenforcement in this area.”

 Although Hammler acknowledged the expectations from the residents, she said she will motionon Nov. 15 to have the barrier removed if the two traffic suggestions the town made are put inplace first. Much of council echoed Hammler’s sentiments.

There will be a public hearing on the Lowenbach community during a Nov. 15 council meetingat 7:30 p.m. A decision is slated to be made on the barrier issue at that time.

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