Gilberts Corner, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gilberts Corner, Virginia
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 Gilberts Corner, Virginia
Location in Northern Virginia
Gilberts Corner, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Gilberts Corner, Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Virginia |
| County |  Loudoun |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Gilberts Corner is a small, unnamed area in Loudoun County, Virginia. It's found where two important roads, U.S. Route 50 and U.S. Route 15, cross paths. It's located just east of a historic village called Aldie.
There are no homes right at this intersection. However, the name "Gilberts Corner" refers to the area around it. It's named after the William Gilbert family. They used to run a gas station and restaurant right at the crossroads. This spot became well-known in the 1920s. Back then, a road called the Carolina Road (now Watson Road) was a toll road. This meant drivers had to pay to use it.
When U.S. Route 15 was extended south, more cars came through. Some drivers tried to avoid paying tolls. This made the area even busier. The gas station and restaurant closed in the 1980s. It is currently being fixed up. Because of the heavy traffic, many drivers would take a different route through Lenah to avoid the intersection.
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Making Traffic Better
For a long time, the intersection at Gilberts Corner was very busy. It had a lot of traffic. Leaders decided to make some changes to help cars move more smoothly and safely.
New Road Improvements
On May 1, 2008, important leaders like Senator John Warner and Congressman Frank Wolf helped start a project. They wanted to improve the intersection. A group called the Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) suggested a new idea. Instead of traffic lights, they thought roundabouts would work better.
A roundabout is a circular intersection. Cars drive around a central island instead of stopping at traffic lights. This helps traffic flow better and can be safer.
In May 2008, a new connector road was built. It linked Route 50 to Route 15 south of the main intersection. This new road also used roundabouts.
Roundabouts for Safety
By fall 2008, the main intersection itself was changed into a roundabout. All the old traffic lights were removed. This change helped to slow down cars and make the area safer. The PEC helped a lot with planning these improvements. They even helped protect some land nearby.
On weekends, Gilberts Corner has a popular outdoor market. You can find a farmer's market and food vendors there. It's a favorite spot for both locals and tourists visiting Virginia's wine and horse country.
Fixing Problems
In September 2013, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) noticed a problem. Too many crashes were happening because cars were speeding through the roundabout. So, VDOT made some adjustments. By November 2013, they changed the curb lines, road markings, and signs. They also made sure that all roads leading to the roundabout had only one lane. This helped to control the speed of cars.
The U.S. Federal Highway Administration even mentioned the Gilberts Corner Roundabout in one of its guidebooks. They said it was a good example of how to make roads better for people.
Why Roundabouts Work
The plan to calm traffic was approved in 1997. It even won an award! In 1998, Senator John Warner helped get $13 million to fund the project. This money came from a federal transportation bill.
The project showed that roundabouts can help with traffic jams and safety. They also prevent the need to make roads much wider. This is often needed for turn lanes at regular intersections. Roundabouts help traffic flow better and reduce speeds.
At Gilberts Corner, they didn't just use one roundabout. They used three! One was at the main crossing of Routes 15 and 50. The other two connected a new road between these routes. This helped cars move easily between different directions. This was the first time VDOT used traffic calming methods on a main state highway.
