VDOT News - Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Construction crews will begin to demolish the former Interstate 95 southbound overpass at Exit 133 (Route 17) in Stafford County starting Monday, Oct. 19.

Route 17 motorists should anticipate overnight lane closures, ramp closures and intermittent full traffic stops for several weeks in late October and November to allow crews to remove the former overpass.

Early Wednesday, Oct. 14, workers shifted all I-95 southbound traffic to a new overpass of Route 17 as part of the I-95 Southbound Rappahannock River Crossing project. 

Demolition of the former I-95 southbound bridge will occur during the overnight hours since lane closures and traffic stoppages on Route 17 are required to safely complete this work.

Nearby residents can expect noise to occur with the bridge demolition. Crews will complete demolition activities as quickly as possible to minimize the disturbance to residents and minimize travel delays to drivers.

Intermittent full traffic stops for Route 17 are needed on several evenings between midnight and 3 a.m. Traffic may be stopped for up to 30 minutes at a time. In between each stop, congestion will be allowed to clear before the next full stop. 

Traffic on the I-95 entrance and exit ramps may also be stopped. 

Route 17 travelers seeking I-95 northbound should use Exit 136 (Centreport Parkway) and travelers seeking I-95 southbound during these evenings should use Exit 130/Route 3 in the City of Fredericksburg. 

Lane closures have been scheduled on Route 17 northbound and southbound near the I-95 interchange next week, weather permitting: 

Monday, Oct. 19 – Thursday, Oct. 22 

• 8 p.m. – 11:59 p.m. – Alternating, single lane closures
• Midnight – 3 a.m. – Intermittent full traffic stops up to 30 minutes
• 3 a.m. – 7 a.m. – Alternating, single lane closures 

Construction of the new I-95 southbound overpass will begin once demolition is complete.

Crews are anticipating at least four weeks to remove the former I-95 southbound structure. 

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. Preliminary construction activities began in summer 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 under construction and will open to traffic in late 2022.

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.