Five years after its debut, the Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) at Exit 140 on Interstate 95 in Stafford County has reshaped traffic patterns, boosted capacity, and contributed to regional growth.

Built to replace a decades-old diamond interchange, the DDI has allowed for smoother traffic flow, reduced conflict points, and increased safety, according to Kelly Hannon, spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) Fredericksburg District.

This article is exclusively for our Locals Only members. Please Sign In or upgrade to become a Locals Only Member today!

Your support helps us continue delivering more in-depth community news that matters to you.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is seeking feedback from residents and travelers on a Strategically Targeted Affordable Roadway Solutions (STARS) study assessing potential safety, operational, transit, and bicycle/pedestrian improvements along Hoadly Road (Route 642) between Route 234 (Dumfries Road) and Prince William Parkway (Route 294).

Hoadly Road, a key corridor in Prince William County, carries an average of 25,000 vehicles per day with a posted speed limit of 50 mph. The STARS study aims to identify potential improvements to enhance traffic flow, increase safety, and support multimodal transportation in the area.

Public Survey Open Through March 4

As part of the study, VDOT invites residents and commuters to complete an online survey to provide input on corridor priorities. The feedback collected will help shape potential improvement alternatives that will be evaluated and presented for further public comment later this year.

The survey, which includes a translation tool for Spanish and other languages, is available through March 4, 2025.

Take the survey here.

Study Timeline

• Study Began: October 2024
• First Round of Public Involvement: February 18 – March 4, 2025
• Second Round of Public Involvement: Late 2025
• Study Completion: Mid-2026
• While STARS studies do not establish construction timelines, they provide detailed proposals that localities can use to seek funding for future improvements.

VDOT has conducted similar STARS studies in Prince William County, including:

• Old Bridge Road and Route 123 near Occoquan
• Route 28 in Manassas Park

These studies help identify infrastructure enhancements that can improve regional traffic operations and safety.

Interstate 95 Southbound

Exit 126 (Spotsylvania) Off-RampSunday – Saturday, 7 p.m.-10 a.m. Alternating single lane closures on the off-ramp from I-95 southbound to Route 1. Construction is ongoing to widen the ramp and build an additional right turn lane to Route 1 southbound.

City of Fredericksburg

Lafayette Boulevard

Monday – Thursday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m.-Noon. Right lane closure between Twin Lake Drive and St. Pauls Drive. Two-lane traffic will be maintained by shifting vehicles south into a dual turn lane.
Welford Street

Tuesday – Wednesday, 8 p.m.-6 a.m. Alternating lane closures for waterline work between Route 1 and Wallace Street. Flaggers will direct drivers through the work zone.

Spotsylvania County

Route 1

Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. All travel lanes remain open, but the alignment of Route 1 travel lanes has slightly shifted between Arcadia Road and Mudd Tavern Road for road improvements associated with the Kalahari Resorts & Conventions development.
Route 1 Northbound and Southbound

Sunday – Saturday, 7 p.m.-10 a.m. Alternating single and double lane closures between the I-95 southbound off-ramp and Southpoint Parkway.
Route 620 (Harrison Road)

Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Single lane closure between Kingswood Boulevard and Salem Church Road/Leavells Road for water main installation.
Southpoint Parkway

Sunday – Saturday, 7:30 p.m.-5:30 a.m.; Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Alternating single lane closures between Pacific Drive and Route 1 for a safety improvement project.

Stafford County

Route 1 Northbound and Southbound

Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Right lane closures between American Legion Road and Route 17 Business (Warrenton Road) for fiber installation.
Route 17 Northbound

Monday – Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Intermittent right lane closures between Poplar Road and Hartwood Church Road for fiber installation.
Berea Church Road Closure

Berea Church Road is closed from Berea Knolls Drive to Theresa Garden Place. Northbound access is closed from Route 17 to Berea Knolls Drive due to construction.

Major Ongoing Projects

Route 1 Over the Rappahannock River (Falmouth Bridge)

The northbound right lane is closed for emergency bridge repair. Two southbound lanes and a single northbound lane remain open.
Route 606 (Mudd Tavern Road) Widening

Mudd Tavern Road is being widened to four lanes between I-95 and Route 1. Expected completion in May 2025.
Route 620 (Harrison Road) Reconstruction and Widening

The project will add lanes and pedestrian infrastructure between Gordon Road and Old Plank Road, with completion expected in summer 2026.

Commuting and Ridesharing Information

GWRideConnect offers free ridesharing assistance for carpools, vanpools, and transit options in the Fredericksburg area. Visit www.gwrideconnect.org or call (540) 373-7665 for more details.

 

Updated 8 a.m. Wednesday, February 5 – As another major snowstorm blankets Stafford County with over six inches of snow on February 11, 2025, local officials are grappling with Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) depleted snow removal budget, which was exhausted by a previous winter storm on January 5–6.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is testing a new way to manage parking at commuter lots through the innovative ParkZen app. Initially launched in November 2024, the pilot program has been extended through May 2025 to further evaluate the app’s effectiveness in providing real-time parking availability at six commuter lots in Northern Virginia and Fredericksburg.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

Upcoming road work in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, and surrounding areas includes several projects to improve infrastructure and ensure safe travel for drivers. On Interstate 95 southbound, the Exit 126 off-ramp in Spotsylvania will have alternating single-lane closures from Sunday through Saturday, 7 p.m. to 10 a.m., as crews work to widen the ramp and add a right turn lane to Route 1 southbound.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

As the heaviest snowstorm in years blanketed Stafford County and the Fredericksburg region, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews have been working tirelessly to clear roads and keep essential routes passable. Stafford County saw some of the highest snow totals in the area, with accumulations reaching up to 8 inches, and more snow is expected later today.

Kelly Hannon, spokesperson for VDOT’s Fredericksburg District, emphasized the challenges faced by crews during the storm. “Our teams have been making repeated passes since it started snowing around midnight,” Hannon said. “We’ve focused on major routes like I-95, Route 1, Route 17, and Route 610 to ensure access to critical areas, including public safety facilities.”

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

Residents across Fredericksburg, Manassas, and Woodbridge should brace for what could be the most significant winter storm in years, with snow accumulations of 4 to 12 inches forecasted. The storm is set to begin Sunday afternoon, bringing snow, sleet, and freezing rain through Monday and potentially into early Tuesday.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

Jan. 5 – 11, 2025

All work is scheduled, weather permitting. That's a big "if," with at least two to four inches of snow forecast for the region. Updated information is available online.

This article is FREE to read. Please Sign In or Create a FREE Account. Thank you.

With a major snowstorm expected to impact the region starting Sunday, January 5, 2024, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) updated the Stafford County Board of Supervisors on its winter storm preparations late last month. Andrew Thorpe, Assistant Resident Engineer, presented an overview of VDOT's snow removal strategies during a recent meeting, emphasizing readiness across Stafford and neighboring counties. The upcoming storm, fueled by a low-pressure system moving west to east, is forecast to bring significant wintry precipitation to the area. Snow is likely across most of the region, with sleet and freezing rain expected in southern areas late Sunday. The system will exit the region by late Monday or early Tuesday.

An elevated winter storm threat is expected late Sun.-Mon. There is increasing confidence in regards to potential travel impacts & closures, especially for the Monday commute. More detailed snow & ice totals will be provided within the next 24 hrs at https://t.co/ZOlvEShgSf. pic.twitter.com/g1dU0K8xvh

— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) January 2, 2025

Thorpe outlined VDOT's preparations, which include the allocation of $220 million statewide for snow removal and deployment of over 900 pieces of snow removal equipment across Stafford, Spotsylvania, and Caroline counties. Stafford County alone will see more than 260 hired snow removal units, alongside VDOT-owned equipment. Crews have stockpiled 29,000 tons of salt and sand and 58,000 gallons of salt brine for pre-treatment. Preparations began in July with contractor coordination and continued with a recent dry run to finalize plans. VDOT's tiered approach prioritizes clearing Interstate 95, primary roads, and access to public safety facilities before moving to high-volume secondary roads and subdivisions. During severe storms, plows focus on making roads passable for emergency vehicles, with follow-up efforts to fully clear roadways as conditions improve. Thorpe emphasized the importance of technology, including GPS tracking on equipment, which allows for real-time monitoring of plowing progress. Residents can access live updates on v.plows.org and view road conditions through the 511 website and app. He also encouraged drivers to stay off the roads during severe weather, ensure their vehicles are winter-ready, and use proper shoveling techniques to minimize re-blocking driveways after plows pass. The Board of Supervisors thanked VDOT for its proactive planning and dedication to keeping roads safe. Residents with concerns or inquiries can contact VDOT’s 24/7 customer service center at 1-800-4-ROAD.