VDOT News - Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Starting Monday, Oct. 26, crews will begin construction work on the Interstate 95 Northbound Rappahannock River Crossing Project, which will add three new northbound lanes spanning over the Rappahannock River between Exit 130 (Route 3) in Fredericksburg to Exit 133 (Route 17) in Stafford County.

As part of the $132 million project, a fourth I-95 northbound auxiliary lane will also be built from Exit 133 to Exit 136 (Centreport Parkway). 

The new northbound lanes will allow local traffic to travel along I-95 between the two interchanges separated from regional and interstate traffic traveling through the Fredericksburg area similar to its companion project, the I-95 Southbound Rappahannock River Crossing. 

Both Rappahannock River Crossing projects are building the additional travel lanes in the median, parallel to the existing lanes and structures over the river. 

Drivers may encounter crews and construction equipment in the median and along the shoulders, as well as trucks entering or exiting the median at various construction entrances throughout the work zone, between Exit 130 to the vicinity of Exit 136. 

Daytime and overnight lane closures are expected in the work zone.

Crews will begin installing additional construction signage, barriers and tree clearing the week of Oct. 26.

Weather permitting, the work zone will occur at the following times:

• Monday – Friday, 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. in the northbound lanes
• Monday – Friday, 9 p.m. to 10 a.m. in the southbound lanes
• Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. – short term (less than 15 min.) shoulder closures 

This project combined with several other I-95 projects represent a combination of nearly $1 billion in public and private investment to relieve congestion in the corridor.

Several features will be built along with the new northbound lanes:

• A sidewalk underneath the I-95 overpasses of Route 17 in Stafford, which will link residential neighborhoods east of I-95 with commercial destinations west of I-95, providing safe passage for pedestrians to walk travel between home, work, and businesses
• Replacement of the I-95 northbound collector-distributor bridge that carries traffic to and from the Exit 133 interchange, which will eliminate a lower-clearance bridge frequently struck by tractor-trailers and oversized vehicles
• Two new traffic signals at Route 17 which will be installed to improve traffic flow and enhance safety through the interchange by reducing vehicle merging and weaving. The new interchange pattern will operate similarly to recent safety improvements at Exit 130 (Route 3). 

The I-95 Northbound Rappahannock River Crossing project is expected to be complete in May 2024.

Earlier this year, the Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded Wagman, Heavy Civil, Inc., of York, Pa. the contract.

Wagman is also currently building the I-95 Southbound Rappahannock River Crossing project, which began in August 2018 and is expected to be complete in May 2022.

Both Rappahannock River Crossing projects will connect with 95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension, which is currently under construction. The Fred Ex project is building two reversible tolled lanes south of Exit 143 (Garrisonville Road) to Exit 133.  Drivers will have new access points to enter or exit the Express Lanes at Exit 140 (Courthouse Road), Russell Road at Quantico and Exit 133. All Express Lanes will open to traffic in late 2022.

For additional information, please visit the Improve 95 website.

511Virginia

Motorists can find real-time information on lane closures, work zones, traffic and other incidents on 511Virginia.

Download the free mobile 511Virginia app for Apple and Android devices to stay connected, or visit www.511Virginia.org. Motorists also can reach 511Virginia by calling 511 from any phone in Virginia.

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VDOT’s 14-county Fredericksburg District includes the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford in the Fredericksburg area; Northumberland, Richmond, Lancaster and Westmoreland counties in the Northern Neck; Essex, Gloucester, King & Queen, King William, Mathews and Middlesex counties in the Middle Peninsula.

Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.