Stafford, VDOT review new I-95/Rt. 17 interchange options: What goes, what stays.

STAFFORD — In the effort to improve traffic flow northbound at Interstate 95 and Route 17, officials have two options.

The first design is VDOT’s “base” option which is within the project’s budget, which takes away the northeast ramp for traffic exiting I-95 north and entering Route 17 North. Getting rid of the loop essentially prevents traffic from slowing down as other drivers try to merge get on and off I-95 on the same stretch of road in the existing a collector-distributor lane.

A new traffic light will be installed at the I-95 off-ramp to Route 17 southbound to allow drivers to get to Route 17 northbound as well.

The second traffic pattern is the “bid” option and would cut about 30 seconds off travel times at the intersection, but it is over budget and would cost $16 to $20 million more than the first design. The more expensive option includes an overpass that would allow I-95 traffic to exit onto Route 17 northbound without going through a traffic light.

Like the first plan, the northeast loop ramp would be demolished.

With the “bid” option the proposed off-ramp would cut through a property on which a nearby Motel 6 stands, located on Route 17 east of I-95. The “base option” design wouldn’t affect the motel.

Plans to reconstruct the interchange are all part of the Northbound Rappahannock River Crossing project that seeks to decrease traffic between the Route 17 interchanges in Stafford County, and the Route 3 / I-95 interchange in Fredericksburg. Officials from the Virginia Department of Transportation on Jan. 15 gave a presentation to the Stafford County Board of Supervisors with design plans for I-95.

The total budget for the project is $132 million. At least $45 million will come from Transurban (operators of the I-95 E-ZPass Express Lanes,) and then another $85 million will come from federal Atlantic Gateway project funds.

No plans have been made to increase the budget to pay for the second design. If contractors who are bidding on the project are bullish, officials hope they can get one to include the ramp from the “bid” option in the “base” option price.

New Rappahannock River bridges 

The discussion comes as crews are currently working to add new lanes in the center of the highway, and a new bridge over the Rappahannock River as part of the Southbound Rappahannock River Crossing Project. On the northbound side, which calls for adding an additional travel lane to the highway, however, there are more environmental restrictions due to environmental protections on wetland areas north of Fall Hill Avenue in Fredericksburg.

When construction is complete, the three outside lanes will be collector-distributor lanes allowing drivers to exit to Route 17. The thru lanes will be on the inside will be for general traffic.

A new northbound bridge included in the River Crossing Project will be built in the median between the current I-95 bridges crossing the river. Although a new southbound bridge is currently under construction, the two bridges will remain independent structures, about 10 feet apart. The reason these two bridges can’t be adjoined (or the preexisting bridges widened) is because when a bridge is too wide, it can’t be inspected by VDOT for safety.

As for the sound impact on nearby residential areas, VDOT has yet to do a noise assessment of the new stretches of road; although, noise barriers will likely have to be built.

There will be an informational meeting on Jan. 30 from 5-7 p.m. at James Monroe High School regarding the I-95 Northbound Rappahannock River Crossing project. VDOT staff will give a presentation at 5:30 p.m. and answer any questions about the proposed plan.