EXCLUSIVE: Woodbridge Route 1 widening project delayed by 1 year

Editors note: This story was prompted by a news tip emailed to us by a reader: “Sharing something I came across.  Very disappointing!  According to VDOT the Route 1 widening is a year behind schedule.  It was originally due to be completed the fall of 2019 and it’s now showing a completion date in Fall of 2020.  Hoping you can check into why. 

The completion date for the project to widen Route 1 between Mary’s Way and the Occoquan River has, indeed, been delayed until fall 2020. It had been set for this year.

“There have been some challenges with the relocation of underground utilities, and also with four drainage crossings and a water main under the [nearby] CSX railroad where hard rocks were encountered at several locations.

The widening and other improvements have been progressing and crews are getting ready to shift northbound traffic in the next few weeks onto the just-completed middle section of the new Marumsco Bridge.

The proposed southbound lanes are almost complete and traffic should be shifted onto to the new pavement between Annapolis Way and the Marumsco bridge by the end of the year,” VDOT spokeswoman Jenni McCord tells Potomac Local.

Improvements to Occoquan Road, including a median and turn lanes from Route 1 to south of Horner Road are underway and should be completed in December, adds McCord. New through and turn lanes on Route 1 and Occoquan Road to improve traffic operations should also be completed by December.

The $165 million widening state-managed project will expand the heavily-used commuter thoroughfare that runs parallel to Interstate 95 from four to six lanes. It’s also expected to spur major redevelopment in the northern section of Woodbridge, near a Virginia Railway Express station and the Occoquan River.

Construction on the project began in 2016.

Work Zone Focus: Route 1 Widening will add one lane in each direction, enhanced access to the Woodbridge @VaRailXpress station, a shared use path & sidewalk, and intersection improvements for traffic operations. More: https://t.co/sTQ2qXnsoi pic.twitter.com/f0eOQ6aUvJ

— VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) April 9, 2019