Ask Patch - What's the Latest on Improvements to Hooes and Silverbrook Roads?

Last week Kathy Rudnicki asked:

1. Can you please find out the status of the proposed improvement at the Hooes Rd./Silverbrook Rd. intersection?

2. What exactly is the plan and when will it happen?

3. How many accidents have happened there in, say, the last year or so?

And here's what we found out:

The last public meeting on the issue was on May 20, 2010 at which time the design was presented to the public. During the meeting it was decided that the new proposal did not accommodate pedestrian traffic in a satisfactory way. So, they quite literally went back to the drawing board. A new design is being worked on at present, which will be presented to the public shortly with the idea of breaking ground in the Spring of 2011.

Some statistics:

Silverbrook Road averages 12,500 vehicles per day (there are two schools on the road) and Hooes Road averages 5,900.

The number of crashes at the intersection with the three most recent years available:

• 2006 -9
• 2007 -6
• 2008 -14

According to Crime Prevention Officer J.T. Frey of the West Springfield Police District the intersection has become more dangerous this year, with 13 accidents through October 7th. However, only four of those 13 were severe enough to be reportable, meaning there was an injury or damage exceeeding $1,500.

Thanks to Ellen Kamilakis at the Fairfax County Department of Transportation for historical figures.

So, what's the next question you'd like answered?