Gilberts Corner, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Gilberts Corner is an unincorporated area
at the intersection of U.S. Route 50
and U.S. Route 15
in Loudoun County
, Virginia
to the east of Aldie
.
There are no residences at this intersection, however, its name is attributed to the surrounding area. Gilberts Corner is named after the gas station/restaurant that sits at the northeast quadrant of the crossroads. It gained prominence in the 1920s when the Carolina Road (now Watson Road) was a toll road and U.S. Route 15 was extended south from Leesburg
to U.S. Route 50. Due to increased traffic from toll evaders, U.S. Route 15 eventually was extended even further south. The gas station/restaurant closed in the 1980s and is now abandoned. Due to heavy traffic in the area, many commuters avoid the intersection altogether by going through Lenah
and taking U.S. Route 15 south. The South Riding
community approximately 5 miles to the east on U.S Route 50.
As of May 2008, a connector road to the east of Gilbert's Corner on Route 50 is being constructed to intersect Route 15 south of the existing intersection. Roundabouts will be used rather than traffic lights.
In the fall, the main intersection itself will be turned into a roundabout, and traffic lights removed.
After this, traffic calming will occur in Aldie, with the road being narrowed in order to slow down traffic.
All work is supposed to be complete by Fall 2009.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
at the intersection of U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50
U.S. Route 50 is a major east–west route of the U.S. Highway system, stretching just over from Ocean City, Maryland on the Atlantic Ocean to West Sacramento, California. Until 1972, when it was replaced by Interstate Highways west of the Sacramento area, it extended to San Francisco, near...
and U.S. Route 15
U.S. Route 15
U.S. Route 15 is a -long United States highway, designated along South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. The route is signed north–south, from U.S. Route 17 Alternate in Walterboro, South Carolina to Interstate 86 and NY 17 in Painted Post, New York.US...
in Loudoun County
Loudoun County, Virginia
Loudoun County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county is estimated to be home to 312,311 people, an 84 percent increase over the 2000 figure of 169,599. That increase makes the county the fourth...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
to the east of Aldie
Aldie, Virginia
Aldie is an unincorporated village located on the John Mosby Highway between Gilbert's Corner and Middleburg in Loudoun County, Virginia. It is located in a gap between the Catoctin Mountain and Bull Run Mountain, through which the Little River flows...
.
There are no residences at this intersection, however, its name is attributed to the surrounding area. Gilberts Corner is named after the gas station/restaurant that sits at the northeast quadrant of the crossroads. It gained prominence in the 1920s when the Carolina Road (now Watson Road) was a toll road and U.S. Route 15 was extended south from Leesburg
Leesburg, Virginia
Leesburg is a historic town in, and county seat of, Loudoun County, Virginia, United States of America. Leesburg is located west-northwest of Washington, D.C. along the base of the Catoctin Mountain and adjacent to the Potomac River. Its population according the 2010 Census is 42,616...
to U.S. Route 50. Due to increased traffic from toll evaders, U.S. Route 15 eventually was extended even further south. The gas station/restaurant closed in the 1980s and is now abandoned. Due to heavy traffic in the area, many commuters avoid the intersection altogether by going through Lenah
Lenah, Virginia
Lenah is an unincorporated village on U.S. Route 50 in Loudoun County, Virginia. It lies at the crossroads of U.S. Route 50 and Lenah Road....
and taking U.S. Route 15 south. The South Riding
South Riding, Virginia
South Riding is a census-designated place and planned community in Loudoun County, Virginia. The population as of the 2010 Census was 24,256.. Neighboring U.S. Route 50 and State Route 28 provide access to the Dulles/Reston/Tysons Corner technology corridor and other major employment centers in...
community approximately 5 miles to the east on U.S Route 50.
Traffic Improvements
On May 1, 2008, Sen. John Warner, Congressman Frank Wolf, and Supervisor Jim Burton attended a groundbreaking ceremony that is launching an improvement of the intersection. As part of a traffic calming initiative suggested by the Piedmont Environment Council and the Route 50 Traffic Planning Task Force, the suggestion was made to replace the signalized intersection with several roundabouts.As of May 2008, a connector road to the east of Gilbert's Corner on Route 50 is being constructed to intersect Route 15 south of the existing intersection. Roundabouts will be used rather than traffic lights.
In the fall, the main intersection itself will be turned into a roundabout, and traffic lights removed.
After this, traffic calming will occur in Aldie, with the road being narrowed in order to slow down traffic.
All work is supposed to be complete by Fall 2009.