FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and its contractor will open the Interstate 95 northbound overpass in Stafford County next week at the exit 133 interchange. 

As part of the I-95 Northbound Rappahannock River Crossing Project, crews built a new, higher bridge over Route 17 to carry traffic entering or exiting the interstate. It will open to traffic early Wednesday, Sept. 27 before the morning rush hour. 

Click here to view temporary traffic pattern with loop ramp from Route 17 southbound to enter I-95 northbound. 

The new bridge will modify the traffic pattern on Route 17 and remove the dual left turn lanes on southbound Route 17. Drivers seeking northbound I-95 will use the free-flowing loop ramp.                 

Route 17 traffic signal timing will be adjusted to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion in this area. Travelers exiting I-95 northbound to Route 17 northbound will gain additional green time, which will reduce delays along the off-ramp and at the exit 133 interchange. 

While the new overpass will open to traffic on Wednesday, a temporary traffic pattern will remain in effect to allow crews to continue to build additional lanes on Route 17 between Short Street and South Gateway Drive/Sanford Drive on Route 17. Work is also underway to install drainage systems and sidewalk in this area. Click here to view an image of the temporary alignment that will remain in place until late fall 2023, when crews can shift  I-95 northbound traffic into its final traffic configuration. 

Overnight Ramp Closures and Lane Closures Sept. 26-29 

To open the new overpass, crews need overnight lane and ramp closures at exit 133 starting late Tuesday, Sept. 26. Crews will be installing overhead signs on I-95 northbound, removing existing pavement markings and applying new markings on Route 17. 

Starting at 10 p.m., I-95 northbound will be reduced to a single lane between the Rappahannock River and exit 133 followed by full traffic stops between midnight and 3 a.m. Each stop may last up to 30 minutes. 

The I-95 northbound on- and off-ramps at Route 17 will also close each evening between midnight and 3 a.m. on Tuesday through early Friday, Sept. 29. Overnight travelers will be detoured to access I-95 northbound at exit 136 (Centreport Parkway) from Route 1. 

Northbound Rappahannock River Crossing Schedule 

When construction on the $132 million project is complete by May 2024, the final traffic pattern in this area will include: 

• Third right turn lane from I-95 southbound off-ramp to Route 17 northbound
• Dual left turn lanes from northbound Route 17 to Sanford Drive
• Right-turn-only lane from northbound Route 17 to South Gateway Drive
• Triple left turn lanes from I-95 northbound off-ramp to northbound Route 17
• Fourth travel lane for I-95 northbound traffic between exit 133 and exit 136 (Centreport Parkway) 

The original I-95 northbound bridge over the Rappahannock River remains closed for a major rehabilitation project. Once work is finished, the three travel lanes will carry local northbound traffic between exit 130 (Route 3) and exit 133, similar to southbound. The northbound decision point between local versus through lanes will be after the Fall Hill Avenue overpass in Fredericksburg.

Crews anticipate opening the original I-95 northbound bridge and putting all northbound traffic into its final alignment with six travel lanes spanning the Rappahannock River in late fall 2023.

Please visit Improve95.org to learn more about construction projects in the Fredericksburg area.

I-95 Travel Information 

Drivers are encouraged to check 511Virginia.org for real-time updates on lanes closures for work zones and traffic conditions. And, check VDOT’s list of scheduled lane closures for the Fredericksburg region posted each Friday afternoon.

Finally, follow VDOT Fredericksburg District on Twitter @VaDOTFRED or join the Facebook Fredericksburg District group page for additional travel updates.

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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.