Video courtesy VDOT
Construction on the $132 million Interstate 95 Southbound Rappahannock River Crossing project is complete, on time and on budget.
With nearly 150,000 vehicles a day traveling on I-95 near the Rappahannock River, the second southbound bridge and additional travel lanes doubled southbound capacity to relieve congestion in the Fredericksburg area.
Local traffic and through traffic are now divided among six travel lanes between exit 133 (Route 17) in Stafford County to south of exit 130 (Route 3) in Spotsylvania County, which is significantly improving mobility on I-95 since 70% of the traffic volume crossing the Rappahannock River is local drivers accessing either the Route 17 and Route 3 interchanges or both.
While construction is complete on the I-95 Southbound Rappahannock River Crossing project, work continues to build a second I-95 northbound bridge and travel lanes near the same interchanges, along with a fourth northbound lane between exit 133 to exit 136 (Centreport Parkway) as part of the I-95 Northbound Rappahannock River Crossing project.
Wagman Heavy Civil, Inc., of York, Pa. is the contractor for both Rappahannock River Crossing projects.
The I-95 Northbound Rappahannock River Crossing project will also rebuild the last Route 17 overpass in need of replacement at the exit 133 interchange and build sidewalks along northbound Route 17 between Short Street and South Gateway Drive.
Construction on the $127 million I-95 Northbound Rappahannock River Crossing project began in fall 2020 and expected to be complete in spring 2024.
Both Rappahannock River Crossing projects will connect with the future 95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension , which is building 10 additional miles of reversible high-occupancy tolled lanes in the median of I-95 in Stafford from its current southern terminus point at exit 143 (Route 610) to the Route 17 area.
Three new access points to express lanes are under construction at exit 148 (Quantico), exit 140 (Courthouse Road) and at exit 133.
The 10-mile extension of express lanes is expected to open to travelers in late 2023.
The nearly $1 billion Improve 95 program is a combination of state, federal and private investment to unlock gridlock in the Fredericksburg area.
The I-95 Southbound Rappahannock River Crossing is the second project of the Improve 95 program to be completed since the interstate improvement initiative began in 2017 with construction of the diverging diamond interchange at exit 140 in Stafford.
I-95 travelers can expect to encounter work zones between exit 148 (Quantico) and exit 126 (Spotsylvania) with construction in various phases through 2024.
This summer, drivers should anticipate overnight lane closures, minor traffic shifts and full traffic stops as construction progresses on projects.
VDOT encourages motorists to visit 511Virginia.org before starting a trip for real-time information on work zones and traffic conditions.
For more details about current and completed I-95 projects in the Fredericksburg area, please visit Improve95.org.
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.
