VDOT completes multi-year project in Stafford County ahead of schedule

Construction of a new sidewalk and the expansion of a commuter parking lot at Interstate 95 in Stafford County was completed ahead of schedule.

The three-year, $195 million set of projects at milepost 140 aimed to expand capacity and improve travel in the county’s Courthouse Road area reached a milestone this week as work was completed on the final project elements, including the expansion of commuter parking and sidewalks, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

The design-build project built by Shirley Contracting Company, LLC, and designed by Dewberry Engineers, Inc., is finishing nearly three months ahead of schedule.

The early completion comes as traffic volumes across the state have dropped as much as 70% in some areas due to the shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Stafford County invested $18 million in the Courthouse Road widening effort, which was matched with state revenue-sharing funds. The interchange project was funded through the state’s Six-Year Improvement Program. Smart Scale program funds contributed to the construction of several hundred additional Park & Ride spaces.

“We are very pleased with the level of safety and convenience this new intersection has brought to our motorists,” stated Falmouth District Supervisor Meg Bohmke in a press release. “Additionally, this modern improved intersection will act as a gateway to our Downtown Stafford project to revitalize the Courthouse area.”

Construction began in July 2017. The project spanned a total distance of approximately 4 miles and resulted in over 16 lane miles of new roadway on Courthouse Road due to the widening and interchange work. Crews built two new bridges over I-95 and expanded I-95 exit and entrance ramps.

“Safety was our number one priority on this project,” Marcie Parker, P.E., Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Fredericksburg District Engineer stated in a press release. “On behalf of the entire project team, we say thank you to drivers for their patience. We are proud we completed this project ahead of schedule, and we hope the benefits are felt by everyone who travels through the Courthouse area.”

Around 136,000 vehicles a day travel on I-95 near exit 140, and Courthouse Road carries an average of 16,000 vehicles a day.

In December 2019, the new diverging diamond interchange opened at exit 140, along with the four-lane Hospital Center Boulevard extension west of Route 1.

The diverging diamond interchange design improves safety and efficiency by reducing the frequency of left turns, and allows more vehicles to enter and exit I-95 per hour when compared with a traditional diamond interchange.

As part of the project, Ramoth Church Road and Winding Creek Road were realigned to intersect with Courthouse Road at a four-way intersection controlled by a traffic signal. A traffic signal was also added to the entrance of Colonial Forge High School and the Liberty Knolls subdivision.

New Sidewalks, Path

Pedestrians and bicyclists began using a shared-use path in December 2019 that runs along the westbound lanes of Courthouse Road. With the completion of the project, the path now runs uninterrupted from the new Park & Ride lots for nearly 3 miles to the Winding Creek Road and Ramoth Church Road intersection.

Most recently, construction crews finished a new sidewalk along Old Courthouse Road connecting the Park & Ride lots to the Stafford County Government Center.

A new sidewalk was built along the eastbound lanes of Courthouse Road from Ramoth Church Road to Colonial Forge High School to connect residential subdivisions to the school.

Future 95 Express Lanes Connection

The new I-95 northbound entrance ramp was built to incorporate a bridge spanning Old Courthouse Road, which allows for a future, reversible connection ramp to the 95 Express Lanes.

This ramp will allow traffic on Old Courthouse Road near the Park & Ride lots to directly connect with 95 Express Lanes when these high-occupancy toll lanes are extended 10 miles south. The extended 95 Express Lanes will open to traffic in late 2022.

Park & Ride Lot Expansion

Commuter parking space has doubled near the I-95 exit 140 interchange in Stafford with the opening this week of two new, expanded VDOT Park & Ride lots.

Travelers now have a total of nearly 1,100 parking spaces located near this I-95 interchange, which is an increase from the previous 545 parking spaces.

Rideshare users can choose from two lots along Old Courthouse Road, which together offer the following:

• 28 handicapped-accessible parking spaces
• 13 motorcycle parking spaces
• Pickup and dropoff area for buses, vanpools, and carpools
• 4 bus shelters
• 2 bicycle racks, which can accommodate 10 bicycles
• 10 benches
• Pedestrian and bicycle connections to the lots by shared-use path and sidewalks
• New energy-efficient LED lighting fixtures