STAFFORD, Va. — After Delegate Mark Dudenhefer stood behind Virginia’s governor and voted for an $800 million transportation reform package last winter, Stafford County will receive some of the spoils.
In a press release today, Dudenhefer, R-Stafford, Woodbridge, outlined $268 million in new transportation funds coming to the county as part of the deal. With it, Stafford County’s six-year transportation plan will be updated to reflect the changes.
The projects include:
Repair and Paving:
1) $28.7 million to replace or rehabilitate structurally deficient bridges, including:
– Route 1 over Rappahannock Canal in Fredericksburg
– Route 1 over Potomac Run in Stafford County
2) An estimated $45-55 million a year is expected from combined construction and maintenance funds for interstate, primary, and secondary paving over the next six fiscal years. In addition, $20.5 million is targeted for Interstate 95 in the region. Among the pavement improvements that will be seen as soon as 2013:
– Route 1 in Stafford
– Route 3 in Stafford
– Numerous secondary and subdivision streets, in all 14 counties
New Construction Projects:
1) $184 million to reconstruct the Interstate 95 interchange at Route 630 (Courthouse Road) in Stafford County.
2) $55 million to fully fund preliminary engineering work and right-of-way on the Rappahannock River Crossing improvements on I-95 between Route 17 in Stafford and Route 3 in Fredericksburg.
3) $2.2 million to advance the study and design work for the addition of a fourth travel lane on I-95 between Garrisonville Road and Centreport Parkway in Stafford, as well as shoulder widening.
4) Route 17 Widening in Stafford County
5) Staffordboro Boulevard Commuter Parking Lot Expansion in Stafford County
6) Falmouth Intersection Improvement Project in Stafford County
“I am pleased to see that the decision we made in Richmond to improve and adequately fund Virginia’s transportation needs is bearing fruit. Less congestion and safer roads in the region is no longer a fantasy. We can now see real improvements on the horizon. None of this would have been possible without passage of the transportation bill,” said Delegate Dudenhefer stated in a press release.
The transportation bill divided Republicans in the General Assembly because the final version of the bill will bring higher taxes – a jump in sales taxes from 5 to 5.3% statewide and to as much as 6% in the state’s most congested regions in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. Also under the new transportation law, the gas tax not touched since 1986 will be replaced with a 3% tax on fuel at the wholesale level. Democrats supported the bill as the GOP agreed to compromise for an expansion of Medicare in the state.
Dudenhefer also represents Woodbridge, and is the Republican Delegate from Prince William County who voted for transportation reform.
