In collaboration with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Shirley Contracting Company, Transurban is set to unveil a new access point from Opitz Boulevard to the 95 Express Lanes in Woodbridge.
The access point, opening on Thursday, November 14, 2024, at 10 p.m., will allow northbound entry during morning rush hour starting Friday, November 15, providing Prince William County commuters a faster and more reliable route.
The $70 million project, fully funded by Transurban, is designed to serve a growing community that includes major employers like Sentara Northern Virignia Medical Center and Potomac Mills. VDOT Northern Virginia District Megaprojects Director Michelle Shropshire expressed pride in delivering this new connection, citing its potential to ease congestion for drivers traveling from Prince William County and beyond.
“The new connection between Opitz Boulevard and the 95 Express Lanes will provide new access for drivers coming from Prince William County and points south, helping to relieve congestion locally and on I-95,” Shropshire said.
The Opitz Boulevard Ramp Project introduces a reversible, south-facing ramp offering northbound access to the 95 Express Lanes from Opitz Boulevard in the morning and southbound access in the afternoon. The project also includes rehabilitation and widening the Opitz Boulevard bridge over I-95, adding left-turn lanes in both directions and a sidewalk for bicyclists and pedestrians. This stand-alone direct access ramp is the first to be integrated into the existing Express Lanes network. It is expected to ease traffic flow across the highway on Opitz Boulevard.
Originally planned for summer 2024, the ramp’s opening was delayed due to project adjustments, according to Transurban. Despite the delay, Transurban North America President Beau Memory noted that the project reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to mobility improvements in Northern Virginia.
“The Opitz Boulevard Project is a great example of Transurban’s commitment to improving mobility in collaboration with our partners at VDOT,” Memory said. “We are always looking for more ways to provide faster, more reliable trips, and the new ramp will continue to build connections throughout our communities.”
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has announced emergency measures on the Route 1 bridge over the Rappahannock River, commonly known as the Falmouth Bridge between Fredericksburg and Stafford County, as crews begin urgent structural repairs.
Starting last night, Friday, November 1, 2024, new vehicle weight limits of 16 tons for single-unit vehicles and 24 tons for tractor-trailers will be enforced, and the northbound right lane will be closed. These actions follow recent inspections revealing accelerated deterioration of the bridge's structural steel in several areas, prompting VDOT to reduce traffic flow as a safety measure.
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Prince William County has implemented a new jughandle turn to connect Discovery Boulevard to the parkway. A jughandle turn is meant to eliminate traditional left turns at intersections and allow drivers to use a curved ramp on the right side to loop around. From the loop, drivers wait at a signal to either cross the main road or make a left turn onto a side street.
"The jughandle turn is part of ongoing efforts to improve traffic flow and minimize delays during peak travel times," a county press release on the change stated. "Removing left turns at this busy intersection will help reduce congestion and enhance safety for residents and commuters."
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A multi-vehicle crash involving at least one tractor-trailer led to significant delays and extensive road repairs on Interstate 95 southbound on Thursday, October 24, near mile marker 108 in Caroline County. The incident, which occurred at 7 a.m., resulted in the closure of all northbound lanes and two southbound lanes between exits 110 (Ladysmith) and 104 (Carmel Church).
Emergency responders and Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews were dispatched to the scene shortly after the crash, which damaged the pavement. VDOT spokeswoman Kelly Hannon reported that a 150-foot section of I-95's center and left lanes sustained gouges and burn damage, prompting an urgent need for repairs. Crews milled the top three inches of asphalt from the affected area, using 80 tons of new asphalt and 20 gallons of paint to restore the lanes.
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All lanes on Interstate 95 southbound have reopened as of 10:35 p.m., Thursday, October 24, following a multi-vehicle crash involving at least one tractor-trailer and extensive road repairs near mile marker 108 in Caroline County. One person was injured, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.
The incident began at 7 a.m. when a crash blocked northbound and southbound lanes near mile marker 108. Emergency responders closed all I-95 northbound and two southbound lanes between exits 110 (Ladysmith) and 104 (Carmel Church) as they worked the scene.
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The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is hosting an in-person public hearing on Thursday, October 17, 2024, from 5 to 7 p.m. at James Monroe High School in Fredericksburg to discuss a proposed project to replace the Route 1 bridge over the Rappahannock Canal.
The project aims to replace the existing four-lane bridge, built in 1946, with a wider, modern structure that improves pedestrian and cyclist accessibility along the Fredericksburg Canal Path. The $21.4 million project is expected to begin construction in spring 2028. Public comments are encouraged and will be accepted at the hearing and through Monday, October 28, 2024.
Press release:
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From VDOT:
Route 1 northbound in Stafford County will be reduced to a single lane for emergency bridge repairs at Accokeek Creek starting around 9 p.m. tonight.
Crews will repair a bridge rail and section of guardrail damaged on Sunday, Oct. 6, when a tractor-trailer struck the bridge. The bridge over Accokeek Creek is located between the intersections with Route 628 (American Legion Road/Eskimo Hill Road) and South Campus Boulevard. The crash damaged around 41 feet of bridge rail, including six posts, and around 220 feet of guardrail.
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A tractor-trailer crash closed both directions of Route 1 in Stafford County for six hours on Sunday, October 6, 2024. The crash occurred at around 4:26 p.m. near the intersection of South Campus Boulevard near Stafford Hospital, according to Darragh Frye with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
The tractor-trailer was hauling plywood, struck a bridge carrying Route 1 traffic over the Accokeek Creek, and damaged guardrails. As VDOT crews assisted with traffic control, both northbound and southbound lanes of Route 1 were reduced to a single lane. All lanes reopened around 11:40 p.m.
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The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is inviting residents of the Fredericksburg region to participate in a public hearing on a proposed project to modify the intersection at Route 1 and Augustine Avenue, near Allman's BBQ. The project aims to improve traffic flow and safety at several key intersections along Route 1, including Stafford Avenue, College Avenue, and Eagle Village Drive.
The project is being funded through Virginia's SMART SCALE state transportation program. The application for this project was submitted by the City of Fredericksburg.
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Starting Sunday, July 28, drivers on Route 3 westbound in Fredericksburg will experience brief overnight delays and a temporary rough ride as crews begin resurfacing the road and updating lane markings. The work will stretch from Gateway Boulevard to Woodlyn Drive and is expected to take about two weeks.
