Traffic

“Scheduled lane closures for road work in the Fredericksburg District, weather permitting,” the Virginia Department of Transportation reported. Overnight single and double lane closures are set on I-95 near Exit 143 (Aquia/Garrisonville) in Stafford County for pavement markings, with construction-related single and double lane closures plus a temporary on-ramp shutdown at Exit 126; Stafford also faces milling and paving on Route 1, Route 3 and Route 684, guardrail work at the Aquia Creek bridge on Route 610, and pavement operations on Route 630.

Ongoing longer-term projects affecting the area include the Route 1 bridge replacement over Chopawamsic Creek (completion expected June 2028), intersection improvements at Route 1 and Courthouse Road, and the Route 644 (Rock Hill Church Road) bridge replacement that remains closed until June 2027. Drivers should allow extra time and check 511 Virginia for updates.

Virginia Railway Express will operate modified service on Sunday, August 23, with northbound morning trains and southbound afternoon trains, giving Northern and Central Virginia residents a way to reach the Washington region without driving into expected gridlock from the Freedom 250 Grand Prix. The one-day service, detailed in a VRE press release, coincides with the IndyCar street race around the National Mall that is projected to draw about 140,000 visitors daily and trigger extensive road closures and parking restrictions in the District.

Tickets will cost the usual VRE rates and can be bought through the VRE Mobile app or station ticket machines. The press release does not list specific train times, stations served on each line, or the exact number of trips; a schedule PDF is available on vre.org and is subject to change. The special Sunday run also serves as a test of demand and operations for a possible regular weekend service once major projects, such as the Long Bridge expansion, are completed under VRE’s System Plan 2050. District officials are urging travelers to use transit that weekend.

According to a Prince William County press release, the county partnered with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles on July 31 to kick off Traffic Awareness Month with a dramatic 54-foot ladder display at the Prince William County Fairgrounds in Manassas.

The ladder, part of the DMV’s award-winning “Speed Has an Impact” campaign, illustrates that the force of a 40 mph crash equals falling 54 feet while a 10 mph impact matches a three-foot drop; it was on view through Aug. 2 during the county fair at 10624 Dumfries Road.

“The Prince William County Department of Transportation, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Transportation and the city of Manassas, hosted the first community meeting on the $93 million Clover Hill-Parkway interchange project at the Washington Manassas Airport July 30,” InsideNoVA reported. Proposed plans include a diverging diamond interchange at Prince William Parkway and Clover Hill Road plus a single-lane roundabout at Clover Hill Road and Godwin Drive, along with an ADA-compliant shared-use path, to reduce congestion, improve safety and support expected growth from Washington Manassas Airport expansion. The project is about 15% designed and roughly 30% funded, with public comments accepted through Aug. 12.

Officials said full funding would lead to roughly five years of remaining work. A nearby Clover Hill Road homeowner described the existing four-way stop as highly dangerous due to frequent speeding and crashes, expressing support for the planned safety upgrades.

“President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a $22.5 billion renovation of Washington Dulles International Airport that will end the use of the widely disliked ‘people movers,’ the mobile lounges that have been used for decades to shuttle travelers to and from the main terminal,” the Associated Press reported. The plan replaces them with a new U-shaped passenger train, a central walking tunnel, more moving walkways, new concourses, and an above-ground parking garage closer to the main terminal with space for 32,000 vehicles.

Located in northern Virginia and serving roughly 29 million passengers last year, Dulles is the region’s primary international gateway. Construction could begin next spring, funded by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, United Airlines, and other carriers through municipal bonds and airline contributions rather than federal dollars, according to officials. Congress would need to approve some aspects of the project.

“The community-organized carpooling tradition known as slugging will soon expand to one of Fairfax County’s busiest commuting corridors,” FFXnow reported. The I-66 Slugging Network plans a September launch with morning pickups at the Monument Drive garage in Fair Oaks and University Boulevard park and ride in Gainesville, plus drop-offs at Rosslyn, L’Enfant Plaza, Navy Yard, and Metro Center stations, allowing HOV-3 vehicles to use the express lanes toll-free.

Organizers will also run an I-66 Slugging Challenge starting Sept. 14, funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation, offering incentives and up to $1,000 in prizes to encourage participation as a free, sustainable option amid rising return-to-office commuting along the corridor.

“Scheduled lane closures for road work in the Fredericksburg, Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula areas, weather permitting,” the Virginia Department of Transportation reported for the week of July 26 through Aug. 1. Overnight milling and paving will close single and double lanes on I-95 northbound near Exit 143 (Aquia/Garrisonville) in Stafford County, with additional ramp closures and work on Routes 1, 3, 17 and local roads.

Stafford County drivers should expect nighttime single- and double-lane restrictions on I-95 beginning as early as 9 p.m., temporary ramp shutdowns at Exit 143, and alternating or single-lane work on Route 1, Route 610, Route 3 and secondary roads. Motorists are advised to check 511 Virginia for real-time updates and allow extra travel time.