Traffic

Smithfield Road and Doves Lane to Close for Daytime Drainage Work Nov. 17–19

By Uriah Kiser

“Smithfield Road (Route 746) between Petterson Lane and Sinclair Lane (Route 747) will be closed to through traffic during daytime hours Monday, Nov. 17, and Wednesday, Nov. 19, and Doves Lane (Route 650) between Shawnee Lane (Route 793) and Bradley Forest Road (Route 752) will be closed to through traffic during daytime hours for drainage pipe replacement,” Virginia Department of Transportation announced. “Those needing to reach properties along Smithfield Road and Doves Lane will have access; however, drivers will not be able to go beyond the work sites in either direction.”

“Smithfield Road through traffic will be detoured via Coopers Lane, Bradley Forest Road and Doves Lane back to Smithfield Road; Doves Lane through traffic will be detoured via Smithfield Road, Coopers Lane and Bradley Forest Road back to Doves Lane.”

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Downtown Traffic Study Faces Wall of Skepticism, Safety Fears

By Uriah Kiser

Fredericksburg’s long-running push to convert major downtown one-way streets to two-way traffic met its fiercest resistance yet Wednesday night, as residents, commissioners, and former elected officials raised sharp questions about safety data, truck deliveries, and whether the $7.7 million proposal actually solves any downtown problem.

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Virginia Launches Nation’s First DMV-Accepted Mobile ID

By Uriah Kiser

“Most of us rely heavily on our phones, which is why Virginians should have access to a safe, secure form of mobile identification on the devices they use all the time,” Secretary of Transportation W. Sheppard Miller III said. “The Virginia Mobile ID option protects your identity and privacy in the digital age, keeping you in control of what information you share.”

“The Commonwealth has long been a leader in innovation and Virginia Mobile ID is the latest example of how we’re modernizing services for residents,” DMV Commissioner Dr. Gerald Lackey stated. “Over the next few months, we’ll continue expanding mobile ID acceptance with partners, while adding new functionality, such as digital wallet integration.”

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395 and 95 Express Lanes to Reverse Early Ahead of Thanksgiving Holiday

By Uriah Kiser
Looking south along the I-95 E-ZPass Express Lanes near Springfield. [Photo courtesy of Transurban]

“The 395 and 95 Express Lanes will reverse early on a number of days leading up to the Thanksgiving holiday,” Express Lanes announced. “On Thanksgiving, the Lanes will run southbound all day long.”

Drivers with three or more people in the car and an E-ZPass Flex set to HOV ON can travel the Express Lanes for free. The early reversals begin Thursday, November 20, and continue through Friday, November 28. Overnight reversals will remain unchanged.

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Prince William Supervisors to award $61M contract for massive Minnieville–Parkway interchange

By Uriah Kiser
A rendering shows Prince William County’s first Single Point Urban Interchange (SPUI), planned for the intersection of Prince William Parkway and Minnieville Road in Woodbridge. The SPUI will provide access to the upcoming Quartz District, a mixed-use development with more than 1,000 homes and a Whole Foods Market.

Prince William County leaders are expected to take a major step toward easing one of the region’s most notorious traffic bottlenecks — and clearing the way for a long-awaited new community anchored by the county’s first Whole Foods Market.

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Fredericksburg Invites Public Input on Downtown Traffic Engineering Study

By Uriah Kiser
This meeting was at the new visitors center on Caroline Street. [Photo: Mike Salmon]

“The City of Fredericksburg invites residents and business owners to attend a public meeting on Thursday, November 13, 2025, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Fredericksburg Visitor Center, 601 Caroline Street,” City of Fredericksburg announced. “This community meeting will provide an opportunity for the public to share feedback on the ongoing Downtown Traffic Engineering Study, which aims to improve safety, traffic flow, and accessibility throughout the downtown area.”

City staff and the project consultant will present updates on the study’s findings and gather input as the team works to finalize project scopes, cost estimates, and phasing plans. Participants may drop in any time during the meeting to review materials, ask questions, and provide comments.

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495 Express Lanes Northern Extension to Open in Late November

By Uriah Kiser

“We are pleased to be getting close to opening the new 495 Express Lanes extension,” VDOT Megaprojects Director Michelle Shropshire stated. “This latest addition to Northern Virginia’s existing 94-mile network of connected express lanes will provide new choices for faster and more reliable travel, in an area of the Beltway that consistently faces lengthy backups and travel delays.”

“The latest extension of the 495 Express Lanes again proves the power of partnership,” said Beau Memory, President, Transurban North America. “Investing in our community means more than just steel and concrete infrastructure—it is about creating lasting value through community benefits like multimodal travel choices and local organization investment.”

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Dominion probes stray voltage behind recurring Manassas Drive rail-arm failures

By Uriah Kiser
Photo: Google Maps

Drivers in Manassas Park know the spot: the railroad crossing on Manassas Drive, where the warning arms sometimes drop and stay down long after the train has passed. The glitch has been causing backups — and frustration — for years.

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Overnight 95 Express Lanes Closure in Dale City for Bridge Work Preparation

By Uriah Kiser

“The southbound-running 95 Express Lanes will be closed between the exit for Dale Boulevard (Route 784) and the exit for Route 234 (Dumfries/Manassas) for Neabsco Creek bridge-related geotechnical work,” the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) announced. “The left lane will close from 9:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, followed by a full closure from 10 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8.”

During the full closure, ramps from Opitz Boulevard (Route 2000) and the southbound I-95 general purpose lanes near mile marker 156.5 will also be closed. Southbound 95 Express Lanes traffic will be detoured to the general purpose lanes via the Dale Boulevard flyover and can re-enter the Express Lanes just past the Telegraph Road overpass in Stafford County.

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FAMPO Announces Complete Streets Public Workshops and Regional Survey

By Uriah Kiser

“The Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (FAMPO) will release a regional survey and host three Public Workshops to gather input and inform the public about FAMPO’s Complete Streets Plan,” FAMPO announced. “The survey will give Fredericksburg area residents the opportunity to share their opinions on regional needs and impact the future of bicycle, pedestrian, and public transportation planning.”

“Complete Streets ensure the safe and adequate accommodation of all users of the transportation system, including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation users, children, older individuals, individuals with disabilities, motorists, and freight vehicles,” the organization stated.

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