On February 10 Virginia State Senator Jill Vogel walked the dangerous ground on Route 50 just west of Middleburg with Middleburg Police Chief A.J. Panebianco, Town Council members Kevin Daly and Bridge Littleton, former Town Council Member Lisa Patterson and Dee Dee Hubbard, Eccentric Editor-in-Chief.

The goal of the meeting was to identify clearly and move the Virginia Department of Transportation to help address the dangers associated with the intersection of Zulla Road and Route 50 and those brought about by "get-to-the-head-of-the line" speeding as Route 50 west of town narrows to two lanes and the speed limits drop suddenly from 55 to 35 to 25 mph.

Both factors are complicated by the blind approach to both the intersection and the dropping speed limits as drivers crest the hill at Mount Defiance and head downhill into Middleburg, all too often traveling well over the 55 mph speed limit.

Police enforcement in the area is also complicated by geography. The area is just outside Middleburg, and thus outside the jurisdiction of the Middleburg PD. It is also quite close to the Fauquier County line, thus limiting for practical time and manpower reasons patrolling by the Loudoun County Sheriff's Departments.

Chief Panebianco summarized the group's findings and recommendations in a formal letter to Senator Vogel

Killer Left Turns from Zulla Road

Drivers turning left from Zulla Road onto Route 50 west all too often make their turn too early. Instead of crossing over two lanes of eastbound traffic before turning, they turn left immediately, straight into eastbound traffic cresting a blind hill above them at 55mph or more.

The dangers of a disastrous head-on collision are exacerbated by a confusing (and some say illegal) rock structure in the median strip across from the intersection, and still worse at night, even for drivers who know the intersection. Some GPS systems add to the danger

Indeed, less than a week after Vogel and the Council walked the ground a large truck pulling a 40-foot trailer hauling steel beams turned left into oncoming traffic, prompted to do so by the voice of the driver's GPS system. Happily, the driver saw immediately what he had done and pulled off the road.

Chief Panebianco's letter suggests two solutions:

1. "Consider removing the rock structure, provided it is not in the right of way, as it has been the cause for confusion that makes it appear the eastbound lane [of Route 50] is a two-lane road"

2. Consider erecting a flashing light with a sign indicating "no left turn" from Zulla or denoting the dual lanes. The current markings are not working"

Speeding

The group agreed on three suggestions to address speeding:

1. "Consider reducing the speed limit eastbound [on Route 50 west of Middleburg] as the two lanes approach the crest of the [Mount Defiance] hill.

2. "Consider adding rumble strips to alert drivers to the reduced speed and dangerous conditions."

3. "In such case as the speed limit is not reduced the rumble strips would still help alert drivers of dangerous conditions if we are able to erect a sign."

Senator Vogel has promised to do her best to bring these suggestions to the powers that be in Richmond and see that whatever action s are appropriate and possible are acted on as soon as possible.