“Rethink9” tackles traffic congestion and pedestrian safety in a small Loudoun County town

A major road that travels through a small Loudoun County town is getting revamped for its residents and the rapidly growing areas surrounding them.

Through a project called ReThink9, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the historic town of Hillsboro are restructuring the Route 9 thoroughfare to make roads safer for pedestrians, ease traffic congestion, and rebuild dilapidated infrastructure in the area.

Hillsboro is a small, historic town in the still-rural portion of Loudoun County. It was officially established in 1802 but European settlers started developing the area about 50 years earlier. The area lies along a gap in the hills making it a good route for trade between the eastern and western halves of the Commonwealth.

Because Hillsboro hasn’t grown much since its inception, a number of preserved buildings hug closely to Route 9, the town’s major road. It’s not hard to imagine some of what the town looked like in the past.

Loudoun County, as a whole, has been one of the fastest growing counties in the country in the past decade. As such, Route 9 is a major route between growing communities such as Jefferson County in West Virginia — which promises a combination of space and affordability even if the commute is long — and jobs in Loudoun and Fairfax counties.

That means a lot of pressure (and a lot of cars) for Hillsboro and on Route 9, as there can be epic backups along the few stoplights that dot the route. The town also has problems with its antiquated infrastructure, including the water and electrical systems. It lacks a sewage system, and old septic tanks are nearing their end of life.

There were proposals to build a Route 9 bypass but studies pointed out that this would only lead to induced demand along the road and would not help the town meet its need for improved safety, even when traffic isn’t so heavy. The bypass proposal was also never seriously pursued because it was prohibitively expensive and would have meant a big maintenance bill going forward.

Enter ReThink9, an attempt to solve several problems at once — but it requires some big changes.

Notably, the entire road was closed within the town limits earlier this month. The full closure is expected to last well into next month. And even when the full closure is complete, the road will be one-way (switching directions based on commuting hours) for many months afterwards.

Because there are no nearby alternate routes, VDOT had to identify detours for local traffic as well as one for typical West Virginia commuters which required them to take route 340 all the way to Route 7.

But the benefits also promise to be big for everyone.

Closing the road gives the town a chance to bury its utility lines and rebuild water infrastructure, including its sewer main. Doing this will end the persistent boil water advisory that has been present in town for years.

Two roundabouts are also being built on both ends of the town — one of which replaces a traffic light. Roundabouts are an important traffic calming tool that slows the speed of cars while keeping travel times consistent by eliminating backups from a stoplight. Another roundabout is being built on Route 9 where it intersects with Route 287, which crosses over the Potomac River into Maryland.

If someone wants to drive faster, they can keep using the present 340/7 detour which bypasses a number of towns. For people interested in Hillsboro’s heritage and tourism activities, they can still access the town.

The rebuild will also include new sidewalk connections and official parking spaces for travelers and residents. The narrow, rural roads help make the town attractive but just because the area is ‘rural’ doesn’t mean the roads can’t accommodate people on foot as well.

Improvements to the town’s streetscape will also help with the local economy going forward, as the region is home to a booming tourism industry focused on its wineries, breweries, and small town charm.