VDOT News - Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Construction will begin on Monday, Jan. 4, on a project to reduce congestion and improve travel in the Northern Neck region by creating passing lanes on Route 3 in Westmoreland County.

This $12.7 million project will build eastbound and westbound passing lanes over a 1.5-mile segment of Route 3 between Potomac Mills and Flat Iron in Westmoreland.

When work is complete, Route 3 will become a four-lane undivided road from north of Route 639 (Winter Harbor Road) to east of Route 624 (Longwood Road). Route 3 will have four 12-foot travel lanes, and a 4-foot paved shoulder on each side.

Left turn lanes are being added on Route 3 eastbound at the intersection with Longwood Road, and on Route 3 westbound at Winter Harbor Road and Route 761 (Falls Hill Road).

Building additional travel lanes along this two-lane section of Route 3 will provide traffic with an opportunity to pass slower-moving vehicles.

A separate $1 million project to lengthen the right turn lane on Route 3 eastbound to Route 624 (Flat Iron Road) will be accomplished as part of this construction work zone and contract.

The new lanes will open to traffic in late December 2021.

An average of 7,200 vehicles a day travel Route 3 in the project area.

The project contractor is J.L. Kent and Sons, Inc., of Fredericksburg.

Project Background

Westmoreland County submitted an application to build this project through Virginia’s SMART SCALE transportation funding program.

SMART SCALE was established to choose the right transportation projects for funding and ensure the best use of limited tax dollars. Potential projects that have been determined to meet a need identified in VTrans – the state’s long-range multi-modal transportation plan – are scored based on safety, congestion, accessibility, land use, economic development and the environment.

Once projects are scored and prioritized, the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) has the best information possible to select projects for funding.

To view how funded SMART SCALE projects are advancing toward construction, visit the SMART SCALE Dashboard.

Stay Updated

Real-time updates on this work zone, lane closures and congestion will be available 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.

Follow VDOT Fredericksburg District on Twitter at @VaDOTFRED.

Read Hot Spots, the weekly list of scheduled lane closures in the Fredericksburg District, including for this project. This list is published every Friday afternoon for the following week.

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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.