Beginning Monday, October 18, 2021, at 5:00 a.m., Loudoun County in coordination with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will deploy an intelligent transportation system (ITS) which includes color, closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV) and dynamic message signs (DMS) at five locations. By tying into the CCTV cameras, VDOT’s Transportation Operations Center can stay updated on incidents on the roads and share accurate information with the public, traffic reporters and law enforcement and fire-rescue agencies. In addition, this information from Loudoun County roads will be added into the VDOT’s regional transportation operation network. These signs will enable drivers to be better informed and make safer and more coordinated commuting decisions.
The county has installed the ITS devices at key locations:
- Route 50 east of Tall Cedar Parkway.
- Route 50 east of Loudoun County Parkway.
- Route 50 east of Stone Spring Boulevard.
- Loudoun County Parkway north of Route 50.
- Route 7 Bypass west of Route 15.
Each site will have two dynamic messaging signs facing both traffic directions, a CCTV camera on a pole extension and a cabinet for the ITS equipment. The equipment will be placed in the median of the roadway. The DMS and CCTV cameras will be integrated into the VDOT statewide 511 system so users can get the most updated information, which can be accessed through the VDOT website, by telephone or a smartphone app.
The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors approved and allocated monies in the Fiscal Year 2019 budget for this project. The county completed the design in September 2020 and VDOT administered the project’s construction. VDOT offered surplus ITS equipment to the county from the recently decommissioned I-66 Active Traffic Management System, which saves the county the expense of purchasing new units and furthers the sustainable practice of repurposing equipment.
For more information, email the Loudoun County Department of Transportation and Capital Infrastructure or email Ellen Kamilakis, VDOT, Northern Virginia District.
Loudoun County provides traffic alerts through Alert Loudoun, the county’s email and text notification system. To sign up for the “Loudoun Traffic and Road Closures” category, visit loudoun.gov/alert.
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