This post started by someone sending us a Tweet about improving congested traffic conditions the intersection at Interstate 95 and Route 123 near Occoquan.
@PotomacLocal Occoquan needs improvements to the VA123/I-95 interchange so people can get there pic.twitter.com/FsaG6lJjf6
— Fix Route 28 (@FixRoute28) April 25, 2016
The Twitter account “Fix Route 28” and the organization behind it is one we are familiar with. The organization regularly argues for improvements along Route 28 between Manassas, Manassas Park, and I-66 in Centreville.
So, when we saw the group was also advocating for other transportation projects in the area we invited “Fix Route 28” to tell us more about their idea to improve the traffic flow at this busy intersection. Mark Scheufler, a group administrator for “Fix Route 28” and transportation policy student at George Mason University submitted this:
The Commonwealth of Virginia recently submitted an application called the Atlantic Gateway for a federal FASTLANE Grant. The Atlantic Gateway proposal leverages public and private investments to improve the I-95 Corridor between Richmond and Washington DC. This includes road and rail improvements such as express lanes extensions, I-395S widening near Edsall Road, a new crossing of the Rappahannock River and additional rail on the CSX mainline.
Improvements to the I-95/VA123 interchange and a fourth general purpose lane on I-95 between the Prince William Parkway and VA123 are glaring projects missing from this proposal that have a direct impact on the quality of life of citizens of Prince William County.
The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments releases a quarterly congestion report and both directions at this location have been in the top ten for the past two years for the entire Greater Washington region. This location is especially bad on weekends when the express lanes are in the opposite direction.
I-95/VA123 (Gordon Blvd) is a 1:1 interchange meaning traffic volumes at entrances and exits are equal in both directions. A 1:1 interchange is not an ideal location to drop or add a lane which is currently the case.
I-95/Prince William Parkway is a 2:1 interchange meaning one direction has twice the traffic volume as the other direction. As an example, 19000 vehicles exit I-95S per day at the Prince William Parkway while only 9000 vehicles enter I-95S from the Parkway. The 10000 vehicle difference makes it an ideal location to drop from four lanes to three. The data for I-95N is similar to justify adding the four lane at the PWP. Transurban deemed the Prince William Parkway as the ideal location to transition the express lanes between three and two lanes.
As the MWCOG report shows, the miles long I-95S congestion is especially bad and it prevents users from accessing PWC at the soon to be expanded Route 1, Express Lanes access point near the Occoquan River, and via VA123 to visit the town of Occoquan. With the expansion of Fort Belvoir and Quantico this important link needs to be addressed. Full recommendation graphic and Interactive Link
Please contact your elected official to make this project a priority.
It’s important to note these improvements are proposed by Scheufler and are not, to our knowledge, being considered by Virginia transportation officials. Potomac Local doesn’t endorse these improvements.
We shared this post only to share an idea and to start a conversation.
