Construction to enhance two key intersections along Route 1 in Fredericksburg is scheduled to start on Tuesday, December 10. The projects aim to improve traffic flow, enhance pedestrian safety, and reduce crashes at the intersections of Route 1 and Fall Hill Avenue and Route 1, Hanson Avenue, and Princess Anne Street.
Route 1 and Fall Hill Avenue Upgrades:
Transurban North America, operator of the 95, 395, and 495 Express Lanes, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Virginia State Police (VSP) are partnering to launch an innovative defensive driving safety campaign targeted to motorists traveling along interstates 95, 395, and 495.
The campaign uses messaging that urges motorists to drive defensively due to the hazards posed by other travelers’ unsafe behavior, such as speeding, texting, and aggressive driving. The partnership is using results from an initial pilot campaign initiative aimed at Express Lanes users on I-95 and I-495, which showed that positive changes in motorists’ behavior can be achieved through communicating the risk of other drivers’ actions.
VDOT HOT SPOTS IN THE FREDERICKSBURG DISTRICT
Dec. 1 – 7, 2024
Press release:
Nov. 17 – 23, 2024
Press Release:
Fleetwood Drive (Route 611) between Parkgate Drive (Route 653) and Aden Road (Route 646) will be closed to through traffic Monday, Nov. 18; Tuesday, Nov. 19; Wednesday, Nov. 20 and Thursday, Nov. 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day for drainage pipe replacement, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has closed the left lane of westbound Balls Ford Road at the bridge over Prince William Parkway, near Gainesville, following damage caused by a truck strike. The closure was announced today, two days after a northbound vehicle on Prince William Parkway struck the bridge’s underside on Tuesday, November 12, 2024.
VDOT has confirmed that the lane closure will be in place for an extended period to allow for further inspections and assessments of the bridge’s structural integrity. Officials have stated that an additional inspection will occur in the coming days, after which repair plans will be developed based on the findings.
Press Release:
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is evaluating the performance of ParkZen, a new smart parking mobile app that enables local travelers to view real-time parking availability in six commuter lots in Fairfax, Prince William, and Stafford counties at no cost. The ParkZen app helps commuters check for and navigate to unoccupied parking spaces.
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 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.
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.”
