Construction is scheduled to begin next year on extending Interstate 95 Express Lanes in the Fredericksburg, Virginia, area.
“This project addresses an area that traffic data company, INRIX, named ‘worst traffic hot spot’ in the nation,” said Virginia Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne. “Expanding the Express Lanes 10 miles south will bring much-needed relief from the existing bottlenecks along the I-95 corridor, improve reliability for commuters and freight, enhance road safety and set up the regional economy for future growth.”
Construction is expected to begin in Spring 2019 with the lanes opening in Fall 2022.
Express Lanes are designed to encourage carpooling and public transportation. Vehicles with two or more occupants can travel the faster-moving lanes at no charge. Solo drivers pay a toll. Solo drivers can remain in regular lanes and not pay a toll.
The project includes 10 miles of new two-lane reversible Express Lanes (with full shoulders) from the existing southern terminus at Route 610 to Route 17 North, and approximately 1.5 miles of an additional reversible Express Lane within the existing 95 Express Lanes south of Garrisonville Road (Route 610), according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.