PROJECT EXPERIENCE:
Route 50 Improvements, Comprehensive Photogrammetric Location Surveys
Location: FAIRFAX & LOUDOUN COUNTIES, VA

Project Background: Three privately-owned turnpikes long since taken over by the Commonwealth of Virginia form what is now known as US Route 50. Through the years residential areas such as Brambleton and South Riding have been developed, and commercial and retail businesses have sprouted up to accommodate those communities and many others.

As a result, congestion along Route 50 through Fairfax and Loudoun Counties has become common place. Not only those individuals living along the corridor, but commuters that use it as a primary east and west travel route have been impacted. Many citizens and public interest groups have expressed the need for implementing traffic calming measures along this busy corridor.

The highway is six lanes in the South Riding area of Loudoun County but then contracts to four lanes between Poland Road in Loudoun and Stonecroft Boulevard in Fairfax County.

Studies and planning efforts have been undertaken over the years to widen this area of Route 50 and to add new features and amenities such as bicycle paths and pedestrian enhancements along the roadway and at various intersections. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has focused heavily on developing plans to improve a 3.6-mile segment between Poland Road (VA Route 742) and Route 28 (Sully Road).

Work Performed: Rice Associates was initially enlisted by VDOT to conduct a comprehensive field supplemented photogrammetric location survey along Route 50 between Poland Road and Route 28 for planning and study purposes. The survey included one foot contours and property and right-of-way data, in addition to subsurface utilities and planimetric features. Rice Associates was enlisted again two years later to prepare an updated photogrammetric location survey of the same corridor and was called upon again the following year to extend the most current location survey 1.3 miles to the east from Route 28 to Stonecroft Boulevard.

All survey related activities were conducted in strict accordance with the Virginia Department of Transportation Survey Manual 2002.