VDOT News - Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Rappahannock River is now open to recreational users near the Interstate 95 bridges in Fredericksburg. Paddlers will no longer portage to safely navigate through the work zone as bridge construction continues as part of the I-95 Rappahannock River Crossing projects.

Earlier today, crews removed the portage to allow river users to pass underneath the I-95 bridges without having to exit the water.

Two new interstate bridges are being built between Stafford County and the City of Fredericksburg to carry a total of six new lanes of through traffic over the river.

A portage was required to allow crews to extend a temporary equipment bridge in the river toward the Stafford riverbank.

Weather permitting, the river channel is anticipated to remain open to recreational traffic until early Aug. 2021, when portage use will be required on an intermittent basis.

The temporary bridge will be reinstalled to allow crews to use a crane to advance construction on the future I-95 northbound bridge.

All recreational traffic, on the river and on pedestrian trails, is encouraged to obey all signs and warnings in the construction work zone.

River users can stay updated by checking Improve95.org.

Project Background

Several megaprojects are under construction to reduce congestion and improve reliability on I-95 in the Fredericksburg area.

Construction on the I-95 Southbound Rappahannock River Crossing began in August 2018 and will be underway through May 2022.

The $132 million project is building three additional travel lanes between exit 133 in Stafford and exit 130 (Route 3) in Fredericksburg, and will build a new bridge span over the Rappahannock River.

New lanes are being built parallel to the existing southbound lanes in the median. With nearly 150,000 vehicles a day traveling on I-95 near the Rappahannock River, the new lanes will allow local traffic to travel along I-95 between interchanges separated from regional and interstate traffic traveling through the Fredericksburg area.

The I-95 Northbound Rappahannock River Crossing project will build additional northbound travel lanes between the same interchanges. Construction activities began in Oct. 2020, and new lanes will open to traffic in early 2024.

Both Rappahannock River Crossing projects will connect with 95 Express Lanes, which are being extended over 10 additional miles in Stafford to the Route 17 area.

The 95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension is currently under construction.

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.