The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is asking drivers to avoid a portion of I-95 this week due to an interstate bridge construction project that is expected to result in serious traffic delays.
The I-95 “Mega Work Zone” project taking place this week will allow VDOT to open a new I-95 northbound bridge at mile marker 132 over the Rappahannock River between Fredericksburg and Stafford County.
VDOT warns that travelers should expect major delays on I-95 north between 5 p.m. on Monday, December 5, through 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 7, between Exit 130 (Route 3) and Exit 136 (Centreport Parkway) as traffic is moved onto the new bridge.
VDOT is recommending all drivers avoid the area between Monday evening and early Wednesday morning if possible.
“We are grateful for the extraordinary patience of the Fredericksburg area and travelers as we open this interstate bridge. We don’t open interstate bridges often, and crews will be working nonstop during the work zone hours to safely transition travelers onto the new crossing,” VDOT said.
VDOT offered the following tips to help drivers navigate the I-95 project:
- I-95 northbound thru travelers headed to points north of the D.C. area should take exit 104 (Carmel Church) in Caroline to use Route 207 eastbound and Route 301 northbound to avoid delays.
- Fredericksburg area residents can expect delays on I-95 northbound and Route 1 northbound from Monday night at 5 p.m. until 4:30 a.m. Wednesday. Traffic will be reduced to a single lane overnight Monday and Tuesday. We will have 3 northbound lanes open most of the day Tuesday, from 4:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., but it will be in a temporary pattern with 2 lanes crossing the new bridge, and a single lane crossing the existing bridge. Due to this split, we anticipate traffic during these hours will be flowing but moving at slower speeds.
- The exit ramp from I-95 northbound to Route 17 in Stafford at exit 133 will close from 7 p.m. Tuesday to 4:30 a.m. Wednesday. When the ramp reopens at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, drivers will be directed to exit just north of the Fall Hill Avenue in Fredericksburg. If that sounds a little soon, it’s because this traffic will still travel over the existing Rappahannock River bridge for another week. After the shift, crews will be able to pave a direct connection to this exit ramp north of the bridge.
You can click here for additional information on the project.