VDOT News - Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has scheduled full traffic stops on Route 17 near Interstate 95 in Stafford County to demolish the former I-95 northbound overpass, starting tonight, Sept. 30.

All traffic on Route 17 northbound and southbound will be stopped intermittently up to 30 minutes between midnight and 3 a.m. on weekday evenings starting tonight through early Friday, Oct. 18 for the I-95 Southbound Rappahannock River Crossing project.

Most recently, all of I-95 northbound traffic was shifted to a new bridge in a temporary traffic pattern. Once demolition of the former I-95 northbound overpass is complete, crews will begin building a new northbound bridge.

Weather permitting, the following lane closures are scheduled:

Route 17 Northbound at the I-95 Overpasses 

• Monday - Thursday, 7 p.m. – 6 a.m. 

• 7 p.m. – single lane closure
• 12 a.m. – 3 a.m. Intermittent full traffic stops up to 30 minutes at a time. All Route 17 traffic will be stopped. Congestion will be cleared in between each full traffic stop.
• 3 a.m. – 6 a.m. single lane closure 

Route 17 Southbound at the I-95 Overpasses 

• Monday - Thursday, 9 p.m. – 10 a.m. 

• 7 p.m. – single lane closure
• 12 a.m. – 3 a.m. Intermittent full traffic stops up to 30 minutes at a time.
• 3 a.m. – 10 a.m. single lane closure 

Work zone will repeat on this schedule on Oct. 7-11 and Oct. 15-18, weather permitting.

Route 17 travelers can use the most convenient alternate route, depending on their destination.

Message boards will provide advance notice of the lane closures and possible delays.

Virginia State Police will assist with traffic control in the work zones.

Temporary and Final Traffic Conditions

The I-95 Southbound Rappahannock River Crossing project is building three southbound lanes from Exit 133/Route 17 in Stafford to south of Exit 130/Route 3 in Spotsylvania County. In addition to building a new three lane bridge over the Rappahannock River, the project is replacing the I-95 overpasses spanning Route 17.  

When construction is complete, six southbound lanes will carry local and through traffic from Exit 133 over the river to Exit 130. The six southbound lanes will be divided between local and through traffic to reduce I-95 congestion between the two interchanges.

Currently, I-95 northbound traffic is traveling on the future southbound overpass for through traffic.

Crews will demolish the former I-95 northbound overpass then switch traffic to the new bridge in summer 2020.

The final traffic pattern will have local drivers use the three existing I-95 southbound lanes to travel Route 17 and Route 3, while drivers seeking destinations further south will use the three new travel lanes.

The project is expected to be complete in May 2022.

For more information about the I-95 projects in the Fredericksburg area, please visit the Improve 95 website at www.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.

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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.