As we head into the July 4 holiday weekend, here’s what to know before you hit the road.
Heads up! VDOT will suspend many highway work zones and lift lane closures on interstates and other major roads starting at noon Thursday, July 3, through noon Monday, July 7. But here’s what’s happening before and after the break:
STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. – The Stafford County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday night to adopt a new ordinance that will allow speed and red light cameras in school and highway work zones, a move aimed at improving road safety across the county.
The ordinance, O25-13, amends the county’s motor vehicle code to enable the use of automated photo speed monitoring devices in designated school and work zones and authorizes the placement of red light cameras at intersections. While state law already permits speed enforcement in these zones, a county ordinance was required to allow red light camera enforcement.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – A high-speed motorcycle pursuit early this morning ended in a fatal crash near Route 1 in Prince William County.
At about 1 a.m., a Virginia State Trooper clocked a motorcycle traveling 115 miles per hour on southbound I-495 near Eisenhower Avenue. When the trooper attempted to make a traffic stop, the motorcyclist refused to pull over, prompting a chase.
WOODBRIDGE, Va. –A surge in riders across OmniRide commuter bus routes is triggering overcrowding issues on several key lines, prompting officials at the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) to weigh how and where they can expand service — especially as the region heads into a busy fall season.
Speaking during the June 5 PRTC Board of Commissioners meeting, Executive Director Dr. Bob Schneider said ridership dipped slightly in May due to seasonal factors like Memorial Day and rainy weather, but overall remains strong.
On June 16, the Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (FAMPO) Policy Committee approved Resolution 2550, selecting Option C—a route connecting Celebrate Virginia Parkway in Stafford County with Gordon W. Shelton Boulevard in Fredericksburg—as the preferred corridor. The approval allows consultants to complete cost estimates and finalize documents ahead of a federally required environmental review (NEPA).
Fredericksburg officials supported Option C with a 6-1 vote, and Stafford County unanimously endorsed it. Spotsylvania County declined to endorse a specific route, raising concerns about potential impacts on local roads such as Fall Hill Avenue, Bragg Road, and River Road.
STAFFORD, Va. – Rock Hill Church Road is open to traffic once again after bridge maintenance wrapped up ahead of schedule.
According to a Wednesday update from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the road reopened following work on the temporary, single-lane bridge over Aquia Creek. The detour that routed drivers around the closed section via Garrisonville, Joshua, and Mountainview roads has now been lifted.
PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – After more than a decade of promises, delays, and renewed commitments, the long-awaited Potomac Shores Virginia Railway Express (VRE) station is finally inching toward full construction, with key infrastructure nearly complete and developers eyeing a construction start by the end of 2025.
At a June 5 meeting of the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC), officials confirmed that the parking garage and station access infrastructure—critical components of the overall project—are “just about to get wrapped up.” Construction of the station itself, which will be led by private developers with VRE now included in “intimate discussions,” could begin as early as late 2025, pending final documentation and approvals from CSX.
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – All lanes of Interstate 95—both northbound and southbound—are shut down at Exit 130 (Route 3/Plank Road) following an incident involving downed power lines, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
Officials say the closure is due to live power lines lying across the highway. “I-95 NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND: All lanes are closed at Exit 130 (Route 3) due to downed power lines,” VDOT said in a statement. “Expect major delays due to stopped traffic and use alternate routes.”
