RELEASE: IMMEDIATE May 15, 2013
CONTACT: Cord Sterling

HIGHWAY, BRIDGE AND TRANSIT FUNDING PROPOSED FOR FREDERICKSBURG DISTRICT
State Transportation Board Member Announces Regional Projects in Draft Transportation Budget Unveiled Wednesday
FREDERICKSBURG – Commonwealth Transportation Board Member Cord A. Sterling announced nearly $448 million in transportation projects are funded in the 14-county Fredericksburg District over the next six years, included in the working draft of the Six-Year Improvement Program for fiscal years 2014-2019.
This program represents an additional $268 million for area roads than the existing Six-Year Improvement Program, resulting from the transportation plan proposed by Governor Bob McDonnell and passed by the Virginia General Assembly under the leadership of Virginia House Speaker Bill Howell.
Virginia's draft Six-Year Improvement Program, which funds highway, bridge, transit, bicycle and pedestrian projects, was released to the public on Wednesday. It is posted online at www.virginiaDOT.org. Commonwealth Transportation Board members will seek public input and make appropriate changes before voting on the final Six-Year Improvement Program in June. The new program will go into effect on July 1, 2013.
"Thanks to the leadership of Governor McDonnell, the future of transportation in the Fredericksburg region means less congestion, smoother roads with fewer potholes, and new highway capacity and bridges to deliver people where they need to go," said Commonwealth Transportation Board member Cord Sterling.
"After years of falling ratings for economic development because of our failing transportation network, businesses can confidently invest in Virginia, knowing this long-term revenue stream will keep people and goods moving for a generation," Sterling said.
"I am also grateful to House Speaker Bill Howell, who led the Virginia General Assembly to pass a funding package for transportation, a legislative achievement unseen in nearly three decades," Sterling said. "Criticism is easy but leadership is hard, and Speaker Howell understood
that improving and maintaining the Commonwealth's transportation infrastructure was essential to job creation, and he convinced his colleagues that this was the year for action. Due to his work, and support from area lawmakers like Delegate Mark Dudenhefer and Delegate Bobby Orrock, every motorist in Virginia will see a direct improvement in their daily travel."
Projects are organized in the program according to district boundaries. The Fredericksburg District begins with Spotsylvania and Stafford in the west, and stretches east along the entire Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula.
Fredericksburg District Highlights:
Bridges
$28.7 million to replace or rehabilitate structurally deficient bridges, including:
o Route 633 over South River in Caroline County, a bridge that is currently closed due to deterioration
o Route 1 over Rappahannock Canal in Fredericksburg
o Route 1 over Potomac Run in Stafford County
o Route 662 over Fox Creek in Gloucester County
o Route 691 over Piscataway Creek in Essex County
Paving
An estimated $45-55 million a year is expected from combined construction and maintenance funds for interstate, primary, and secondary paving over the next six fiscal years. In addition, $20.5 million is targeted for Interstate 95 in Stafford, Spotsylvania and Caroline counties in the FY2014-2019 SYIP. Among the pavement improvements that will be seen as soon as 2013:
o Route 1 in Stafford and Spotsylvania counties
o Route 3 in Stafford, King George, and Westmoreland counties
o Route 3 in Mathews and Gloucester counties
Route 17 in Essex County
o Route 33 in Middlesex County
o Route 198 in Gloucester and Mathews counties
o Route 208 in Spotsylvania County
o Route 360 in Essex, Northumberland, and Richmond counties Numerous secondary and subdivision streets, in all 14 counties
Essential New Construction Projects:
$184 million to reconstruct the Interstate 95 interchange at Route 630 (Courthouse Road) in Stafford County
This project is fully funded through construction. This modified interchange is essential to accommodating Stafford's projected growth and economic development. This project includes the addition of 500 commuter parking spaces on the I-95 corridor.
$55 million to fully fund preliminary engineering work and right-of-way on the Rappahannock River Crossing improvements on I-95 between Route 17 in Stafford and Route 3 in Fredericksburg.
This funding advances preliminary engineering and the right-of-way phase on the Rappahannock River Crossing, which will move the region closer to building new capacity over the Rappahannock River between Stafford and Fredericksburg through collector-distributor lanes.
These lanes will reduce congestion in the general lanes of I-95, and improve the ability of freight traffic to travel through the Fredericksburg area along Route 17.
$2.2 million to advance the study and design work for the addition of a fourth travel lane on I-95 between Garrisonville Road and Centreport Parkway in Stafford, as well as shoulder widening.
This project will alleviate congestion on I-95 in the Fredericksburg area, providing additional lane capacity to move traffic through the region.
$9.2 million to reconstruct a segment of Route 17 in Essex County
This project, which is fully funded through construction, will reconstruct a 0.19-mile section of Route 17 in Essex near June Parker Marina to alleviate flooding on this critical hurricane evacuation route. This project will be advertised for construction in September.
$1 million to build turn lanes at Route 360 and Route 698 (Academic Lane) in Northumberland County
This project will add left and right turn lanes on Route 360 in Northumberland County at Academic Lane, which is an intersection that serves multiple public schools. The addition of turn lanes would reduce congestion and improve safety, as multiple crashes have occurred recently at the site, resulting in injuries.
$4.2 million to build turn lanes on Route 206 in King George County
This project will construct turn lanes on Route 206 at Owens Drive, another critical safety and capacity improvement on a primary road that serves local and commuter traffic traveling to the Naval Support Facility at Dahlgren. This project will be advertised for construction in September.
Previously funded improvements already underway, that are continued:
Falmouth Intersection Improvement Project in Stafford County
This project will reduce the average wait time for drivers at the intersection of Route 1, Route 17, and Route 218 (Butler Road) in Stafford County. The intersection is being widened to make room for construction of new turn lanes and through lanes. Utilities are being moved this summer and fall, and the project will be advertised for construction in November.
Route 17 Widening in Stafford County Route 17 in Stafford County will be widened from four to six lanes west of Interstate 95 from McLane Drive to 0.2 miles north of Stafford Lakes Parkway. Construction work will begin in June, and will continue through 2016. Fall Hill Avenue Bridge Replacement and Widening in Fredericksburg
This $44 million design-build project will replace the Interstate 95 overpass on Fall Hill Avenue. The new overpass will have four lanes and a shared use path/pedestrian facility along one side. Fall Hill Avenue will be widened to four lanes between the interstate and an extended Mary Washington Boulevard, which will intersect in a new roundabout. A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) was issued for this project in February, and a Request for Proposals (RFP) will be issued in July.
Staffordboro Boulevard Commuter Parking Lot Expansion in Stafford County
Construction begins in May to add 1,000 new parking spaces in North Stafford on the Route 610 corridor. The new lot will add dedicated carpool and bus parking, with slugging pickup and dropoff areas.
Public hearings on the draft Six-Year Improvement Program for FY 2014-2019 are being held statewide in May and June.
For the Fredericksburg District, a hearing will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 28 in the VDOT Central Office Auditorium, 1201 E. Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, 23219.
Comments may also be submitted by mail or e-mail: Public Information Office Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation 600 E. Main St., Suite 2102 Richmond, VA 23219 drptpr@drpt.virginia.gov