3-Year U.S. 17 Expansion Gets Underway

STAFFORD COUNTY, Va. — Construction work to widen the two-mile stretch of U.S. 17, between Mc Lean Drive and Stafford Lakes Parkway, has geared up. Currently this stretch of U.S. 17 in Stafford County is six lanes, but it “narrows down very quickly to four,” said Virginia Department of Transportation spokeswoman Kelly Hannon.

“What we’re doing essentially is widening that road back out to six lanes all the way from I-95 to Stafford Lakes Parkway,” said Hannon.

VDOT’s decision for the expansion was based on a traffic study, called VTrans 2035, where the state classified U.S. 17 as a “Corridor of Statewide Significance”.

“Today there’s about 55,000 vehicles a day traveling on Route 17 between McLean Drive and Stafford Lakes Parkway in that two-mile segment. By 2034, that’s going to be 96,000 vehicle a day,” said Hannon of a need for the expansion.

The project, which will cost $48.9 million from Virginia’s construction program in the six-year improvement program will be completed by Henderson Construction Company, Inc, which is headquartered in Stafford.

“The goal is to keep traffic that needs to move down Route 17 down 17, and making it easier for local residents who need to get in and out of shopping centers just to help everybody merge together a little better,” said Hannon.

The expansion to six lanes in this stretch of U.S. 17 will include three travel lanes in each direction, along with an “east” lane – or extra turn lane in each direction – to help people for exit and entry into businesses along the corridor, according to Hannon.

“We’re also doing some things that we think will improve the quality of life. For pedestrians, we’re adding a sidewalk in both directions of the road in that two mile segment, to help people who go walking in that area.”

In addition to the expansion and safety improvements, VDOT is planning to make traffic signal equipment improvements. While no new signals will be added, additional equipment will be added, as well as double left turn lanes.

While construction began at the groundbreaking ceremony on June 12, drivers will start seeing work zone signs mid-July through August as construction gets underway.

Hannon stressed that construction should little to no impact on drivers on the roadway. Southbound lanes can only be worked on at night with closures from 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., and northbound lanes from 9 p.m. – 5:30 a.m.

The project is set for completion on December 1, 2016.