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:
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.
October is Pedestrian Safety Month, and the Prince William Police Department is urging both pedestrians and drivers to prioritize safety on the roads. Drivers must stop for pedestrians in all crosswalks, while pedestrians are encouraged to use marked crosswalks and follow safety tips to avoid accidents.
Press Release from Prince William Police Department:
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.
On Tuesday, October 1 at 2:11 p.m., crash investigators responded to a fatal accident on the I-66 express exit ramp near University Blvd. in Gainesville.
A 2023 Audi Q5, driven by a 75-year-old man from Sterling, failed to slow down or turn while exiting toward University Blvd., leading the vehicle to cross all lanes and crash into a concrete barrier. Both passengers, Alfredo Rodolfo Sobrero, 90, from Sterling, and Liliana Nora Loschiavo Sierra, 67, from Woodbridge, succumbed to their injuries after being taken to local hospitals. The driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The investigation is ongoing, and witnesses are urged to contact the police.
Commuters and residents in Woodbridge should prepare for a planned lane closure that will impact traffic on the Opitz Boulevard westbound overpass at Interstate 95. The closure, scheduled from 6 a.m. on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, until 5 p.m. on Friday, October 4, 2024, is necessary to construct a new ramp linking the I-95 E-ZPass Express Lanes to Opitz Boulevard.
This infrastructure project aims to enhance traffic flow and accessibility to key destinations in the area, including Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center and nearby commercial centers. However, as the construction enters a critical phase, disruptions are anticipated. The specific lane closure will allow workers to safely implement parts of the new ramp directly above the Opitz Boulevard overpass.
The Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) has announced a sustained increase in ridership through August 2024, reflecting a growing reliance on public transit amid various operational challenges, including service reductions and fare adjustments.
In August 2024, PRTC experienced an average daily ridership of 2,753 passengers, a 22% increase compared to last year. This rise comes despite significant service cuts implemented at the end of July and a $2 fare increase at the start of the month. Even a tropical storm at the beginning of August failed to significantly deter passengers, underscoring the essential role of PRTC in the daily lives of many in the region, said OmniRide CEO Dr. Robert A. “Bob” Schneider.
Updated 9 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 — In a significant shift aimed at enhancing commuter services along the I-66 corridor, the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) has approved a plan to introduce new state-funded bus routes and eliminate the underused Gainesville-Reston commuter bus route 618. This decision comes after thorough studies identified the need for expanded services and better resource utilization.
The new routes, proposed to serve Front Royal and Warrenton, are designed to support the recently expanded I-66 express lanes and introduce new commuting options for residents. The Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments’ Long-Distance Commuter Bus Study and the Shenandoah County Public Transit Feasibility Study identified these routes as necessary.
The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) Operations Board is poised to extend its parking lease at the Broad Run Station through a recommended amendment to the existing lease agreement with the Prince William Board of County Supervisors. This extension will secure 46,974 square feet, or 113 parking spaces, known as the “barn lot,” for an additional 20 years for $1 per year.
The current lease agreement for the parking spaces at Broad Run Station, just outside Manassas, established in October 2004, expires in October 2024. The proposed amendment seeks to extend this agreement until October 2044, maintaining all original lease provisions unchanged.
