The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will close Route 644 (Rock Hill Church Road) overnight on Sunday, April 6 for a pipe replacement project near Route 671 (Van Horn Lane).
The closure will begin at 8 p.m. Sunday and last through 6 a.m. Monday, April 7. VDOT crews will replace a drainage pipe underneath the roadway during this time. Drivers will be detoured along a 10-mile route using Route 610 (Garrisonville Road), Route 643 (Joshua Road), and Route 627 (Mountain View Road).
Once the road reopens early Monday morning, crews will return to the site at 9 a.m. to apply new asphalt. One-way, alternating traffic will be directed through the area during the paving work, with a flagging crew managing the flow of vehicles.
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Public transportation in Northern Virginia is seeing a significant rebound as ridership continues to climb on both Virginia Railway Express (VRE) trains and OmniRide commuter and local buses. However, transit leaders warn that increased demand may soon outpace available resources, especially for locally funded services.
During its March 2025 meeting, the VRE Operations Board reported that ridership in February topped 152,000 tripsâdespite only 19 service days and early-month weather disruptions. March figures are on pace to surpass that total significantly. With only 14 service days logged by mid-month, March had already recorded more than 162,000 trips. Average weekday ridership has climbed to more than 11,500 trips.
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On Thursday afternoon, a single-vehicle crash brought down power lines and shut down a heavily traveled portion of Route 610 (Garrisonville Road).
According to Stafford County Sheriffâs Office spokesman Ryan Wilbur, the crash occurred in the 1200 block of Garrisonville Road, between Tech Parkwayânear the WaWa gas stationâand Joshua Road, by a Tractor Supply store.
Wilbur said emergency crews took the driver to a hospital out of abundance of caution.
Both directions of Garrisonville Road remain closed as emergency crews respond to the scene. Deputies from the Sheriffâs Office and personnel from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) are working together to assess the damage and clear the roadway.
Drivers are asked to avoid the area and seek alternate routes until further notice.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Updated 10 a.m. â A Stafford County Sheriffâs deputy was injured early Tuesday morning after being struck by a vehicle that fled the scene.
According to the Sheriffâs Office, the incident occurred around 6:15 a.m. on northbound Interstate 95 near the Warrenton Road (Route 17) exit ramp. The deputy, who was operating a department-issued motorcycle, was stationary and stuck in traffic as he exited the interstate when an unidentified vehicle struck him from behind and continued driving.
The deputy sustained what officials describe as minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital. He was released 30 minutes ago, according to Sheriffâs Office spokesman Ryan Wilbur.
Authorities do not have a description of the suspect vehicle at this time but say it is expected to have front-end damage. The Sheriffâs Office is asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash or was in the area at the time to contact them immediately.
In an effort to learn more, Potomac Local News has asked the Sheriffâs Office about the circumstances of the crash, including whether the deputy was conducting radar enforcement and how long he has served with the department. As a motor unit deputy, it is likely he has significant tenure.
The investigation is ongoing, and more information is expected to be released.
The project, assigned to Fresh Air Cleaning LLC, encompasses extensive preparation work, including sandblasting and sealing, before repainting. This initiative is part of VRE’s ongoing life-cycle maintenance strategy to uphold and improve its facilities.
During the public comment segment of the March 2025 board meeting, Prince William County resident Alfred Williams, 84, highlighted the challenges senior passengers face when purchasing tickets at the station.
“I had to go to Washington, D.C., and there was no way to buy a senior ticket at the machine,” Williams stated. “They charged me full price, and I had to call in to get a refund. There used to be a vendor at the station, someone I could talk to, but not anymore.”
Williams advocated for reinstating an in-person ticket agent or vendor between Woodbridge and Alexandria to assist senior riders and others struggling with electronic kiosks.
Board members and staff acknowledged his concerns and encouraged him to contact VREâs planning team directly for further assistance.
The Woodbridge Station repainting is scheduled to commence in the coming months. VRE officials hope that the refreshed station will provide a more welcoming environment for all passengers.
OmniRide, the public transit agency operated by the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC), is entering a new era of service expansion thanks to a newly passed state law.
The passage of Senate Bill 1317, unanimously approved by the Virginia General Assembly and currently awaiting the Governorâs signature, officially grants PRTC the authority to expand transit service beyond its founding jurisdictions. The move clears the path for the agencyâs recent expansion into Front Royal, in Warren County, marking the first time PRTC has offered service outside its original member localities.
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âThis is more than just a commuting road,â said Backmon. âIt will be transformationalâimproving the quality of life, increasing access to jobs, and stimulating economic vitality.â
Backmon addressed the Dumfries Town Council on March 18, delivering an update on NVTA's investments in Prince William County and urging local leaders to prepare for an upcoming opportunity to apply for new transportation funding. The NVTA will issue its next Call for Projects this spring, covering fiscal years 2030 and 2031.
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All work is weather permitting. If you need real-time updates on lane closures, visit 511Virginia.org.
Interstate 95: Northbound & Southbound
- Exit 104 (Carmel Church) to Exit 148 (Quantico)
- Sunday â Saturday, 7 p.m.â7 a.m.
- Mobile lane closures for bridge cleaning at:
- Mile Markers 117, 119, 121
- Exit 126 (Spotsylvania)
- Exit 133 (Falmouth/Warrenton)
- Exit 136 (Centreport Parkway)
- Mile Marker 137 (Potomac Creek bridges)
- Exit 140 (Courthouse Road)
- Mile Marker 144
I-95 Southbound at Exit 136 (Centreport Parkway)
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Despite renewed interest in expanding Metro to Prince William County, the regionâs top transportation planner says itâs unlikely anytime soon.
Clark Mercer, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), told the Prince William Board of County Supervisors on Tuesday that local leaders across the region have little appetite for billion-dollar rail expansions. Instead, regional planners are focused on improving existing services, including buses and infrastructure upgrades at current stations.
