By Sarah-Roderick Fitch

(The Center Square) – Following the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is offering assistance to the state of Maryland.

The bridge spans over the Patapsco River and supports part of I-695, one of the major arteries around Baltimore.

Youngkin says he has been in contact with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, who declared a state of emergency.

In a social media post, the Virginia Republican wrote, “I have spoken with Gov. Wes Moore this morning, and Virginia stands ready to assist and support our neighbor Maryland. Our prayers are with the families affected and the courageous rescue efforts underway following the tragic incident at Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge.”

A Singapore-based container ship rammed one of the support pillars, plunging the bridge into the frigid water below. Baltimore County Fire Chief James Wallace briefed reporters, saying two people have been rescued, with as many as seven people remain missing.

The tragic incident will likely have a mammoth impact on the region, including the Northeast corridor. The bridge carries traffic to and from the nation’s capital and Virginia.

With the container ship and remnants of the bridge blocking access to Baltimore’s harbor, one of the county’s major commercial shipping ports, there is no word yet where cargo intended for Baltimore will be routed.

It is possible ports in and around the Hampton Roads region may play a pivotal role until Baltimore’s harbor can be cleared.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said he is in contact with Moore regarding the incident and is offering federal assistance.

In a social media post, Buttigieg wrote, “I’ve spoken with Gov. Moore and Mayor Scott to offer USDOT’s support following the vessel strike and collapse of the Francis Scott Key bridge. Rescue efforts remain underway and drivers in the Baltimore area should follow local responder guidance on detours and response.”

Residents living near a proposed Route 28 bypass near Manassas express a loss of trust in the county government's decision-making process. Initially, the county voted against the $300 million, four-lane, four-mile road extension of Godwin Drive, only to reverse its stance shortly after that.

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I-95 Northbound and Southbound: Exit 126 (Spotsylvania): Sunday – Thursday, 9 p.m. – 5 a.m. Single lane closures on both I-95 northbound and southbound starting at 9 p.m. followed by double lane closures at 10 p.m. between mile markers 125-126. All lanes will reopen by 5 a.m. Construction of a new overpass of I-95 at Route 17 (Mills Drive).

I-95 Northbound: Exit 118 (Thornburg): Sunday – Thursday, 9 p.m. – 4:30 a.m. Varying single and double lane closures at mile marker 119, just north of exit 118 (Thornburg), for maintenance repairs to the bridge over the Po River.

• Exit 130 (Route 3) to Exit 133 (Falmouth/Warrenton): Monday – Thursday, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Alternating lane closures on I-95 northbound in the through travel lanes and local travel lanes between exits 130 (Route 3) in Fredericksburg and exit 133 (Falmouth/Warrenton) in Stafford. Various construction activities for the I-95 Northbound Rappahannock River Crossing project.
• Exit 130 (Route 3) to Exit 136 (Centreport Parkway): Monday – Friday, 9 p.m. – 4:30 a.m. Alternating lane closures at mile markers 132-134 for barrier wall removal.
• Exit 140 (Stafford) to 143 (Aquia/Garrisonville): Monday – Thursday, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Single lane closure at mile 142 for 95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension project. Construction of a noise barrier.

I-95 Southbound: Exit 140 (Courthouse Road) to Exit 136 (Centreport Parkway): Monday – Thursday, 9 p.m. – 10 a.m. and Thursday – Friday, 9 p.m. – 5 a.m. Single lane closure at mile markers 139-138 beginning at 9 p.m. until 10 a.m. the following morning, except for Friday morning, when all lanes reopen by 5 a.m. Construction for 95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension. Installation of a camera pole.

• Exit 136 (Centreport Parkway) to Exit 133 (Falmouth/Warrenton): Monday – Thursday, 9 p.m. – 10 a.m. and Thursday – Friday, 9 p.m. – 5 a.m. Single lane closure at mile markers 135-134 beginning at 9 p.m. Double lane closures at 10 p.m. Two lanes reopen by 4:30 a.m. with a single lane remaining closed until 10 a.m. except Friday morning. Construction for 95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension.
• Exit 133 (Falmouth/Warrenton): Monday – Friday, Midnight – 3 a.m. I-95 southbound off-ramp to Route 17 northbound toward Warrenton will close at this time for barrier removal. Click here to view the detour.

Spotsylvania County: Route 208 (Courthouse Road): Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Alternating single lane closure with flagging near Route 655 (Ridge Road) for guardrail repair.

• Route 601 (Arritt Road): Monday – Tuesday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Mobile lane closures for eradication of pavement markings and painting of fresh markings, near Mica Mine Road.
• Route 601 (Lewiston Road): Monday – Tuesday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Mobile lane closures for eradication of pavement markings and painting of fresh markings, between Lambs Creek Church Road and Worman Drive.
• Route 620 (Spotswood Furnace Road): Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Alternating single lane closure with flagging near Route 616 (Ford Road) for guardrail repair.
• Route 621 (Orange Plank Road): Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Alternating single lane closure with flagging near Route 3 intersection for guardrail repair.
• Route 646 (Stanfield Road): Monday – Tuesday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Mobile lane closures for eradication of pavement markings and painting of fresh markings, near Log Acres Lane.
• Route 719 (Days Bridge Road): Thursday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Alternating, one-way traffic on Days Bridge Road at the bridge over Lake Anna for maintenance. Automatic flagging devices will direct traffic through the work zone. Flagging crew members operate the devices, which can be adjusted to respond to congestion.
• Route 1584 (Glen Eagles Drive): Monday – Thursday, 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Alternating single lane closure with flagging between Hazel Court and Sawgrass Lane. Pipe replacement.
• I-95 Southbound Exit 126 Off-Ramp and Route 1 Southbound
  A second right turn lane is under construction from the I-95 southbound off-ramp at exit 126 onto Route 1 southbound. Route 1 southbound is being widened from the off-ramp to Southpoint Parkway with an additional turn lane. A second right turn lane is being added from Route 1 southbound to Southpoint Parkway. Traffic islands will be installed along Southpoint Parkway as a safety improvement to allow left turns into driveways but restrict through and left-turning traffic exiting from side streets. Additional right turn lane added to Southpoint Parkway to Route 1 southbound. Project completion in Aug. 2025.
• Route 3 and Orange Plank Road: Utility relocation is underway ahead of construction to modify the intersection of Route 3 and Orange Plank Rd. to a new traffic pattern to enhance safety, improve traffic flow, and reduce conflict points. Project completion in spring 2024.
• Route 17 (Mills Drive) Overpass Replacement and Widening: Construction started in Dec. 2020 to replace the existing two-lane interstate overpass on Route 17 with a four-lane bridge. Route 17 is being widened to four lanes until just east of the Hospital Boulevard/Germanna Point Drive intersection. A shared-use path, sidewalk, and pedestrian crossing equipment will be added as part of the project. Project completion was scheduled for late Feb. 2024. The project is now anticipated to be completed in May 2024.
• Route 208 (Courthouse Road) and Hood Drive: Hood Drive is reduced to a single lane between Route 1 and Route 208 (Courthouse Road), carrying only northbound traffic. Southbound traffic should follow the posted detour along Courthouse Road and Route 1 southbound. New right and left turn lanes are under construction at an entrance to a future Veterans Health Administration clinic. Additional turn lanes will be built on northbound Hood Drive approaching Courthouse Road. A raised median on Hood Drive will separate northbound and southbound traffic between Courthouse Road and McGowan Drive. Additional sidewalks, crosswalks, and pedestrian crossing equipment will be installed at the intersection. Project completion in July 2024.
• Route 606 (Mudd Tavern Road) Widening: Mudd Tavern Road is being widened to four lanes between I-95 and Route 1. A new secondary access route, Route 2092, will be built parallel to Mudd Tavern Road, and will connect with South Roxbury Mill Road and Dan Bell Lane. Project completion in May 2025.

Stafford County: Route 1 Southbound: Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. Single lane closure between Little Forest Church Road and Woodstock Lane. Utility work under permit. This work will be underway at this location on weekdays through early April 2024.

• Route 17 Northbound: Monday – Thursday, 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. – 6 a.m. Alternating single lane closures on Route 17 northbound between Short Street and Sanford Drive for I-95 Northbound Rappahannock River Crossing construction, near I-95 exit 133 interchange. Project completion May 17, 2024.
• Route 17 Southbound: Monday – Thursday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. – 7 a.m. Alternating single lane closures on Route 17 southbound between Sanford Drive and Short Street for I-95 Northbound Rappahannock River Crossing construction, near I-95 exit 133 interchange. Project completion May 17, 2024.
• Route 610 (Garrisonville Road) Westbound: Sunday – Thursday, 9 p.m. – 7 a.m. Alternating single lane closures on the Route 610 westbound bridge over I-95 for maintenance.
• Route 612 (Tacketts Mill Road): Monday – Tuesday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Mobile lane closures for eradication of pavement markings and painting of fresh markings, between Mill Lane and Graceview Lane.
• Route 616 (Poplar Road): Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Alternating lane closures for milling and paving between Branch Creek Way and Tacketts Mill Road.
• Route 651 (Kellogg Mill Road): Monday – Tuesday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Mobile lane closures for eradication of pavement markings and painting of fresh markings, between Moffett Lane and Shover Lane.
• Staffordboro Park and Ride Lot: The Park and Ride commuter lot near the Garrisonville Road and Mine Road intersection will close on Saturday, March 30 and reopen for the morning commuter rush on Monday, April 1. Crews are closing the lot over this weekend to refresh the pavement markings.

“Hopefully this alert doesn’t put you in a trashy mood. Andrew Chapel Road is currently closed in the area of the railroad overpass and Brooke Road due to a stuck trash truck,” the Stafford sheriff’s office reports.

Initially estimated at $53 million, the project now stands at around $55 million, with construction progress reaching nearly 70%. Todd Barton, overseeing the project, explains the challenges faced during construction, notably installing five soil retaining walls to accommodate the structure.

“The site is very challenging,” Barton remarks. “In order to get the structure itself in, we had to install five soil retaining walls.”

Despite some delays, the project is moving forward, with additional security enhancements and amenities being incorporated. Elnour Adam, at the county’s transportation department, outlined these enhancements, including security cameras on all levels and the addition of electric vehicle charging stations, which now total 70, or 5% of the 1,400 parking spaces in the structure.

The garage should open in October, about four months behind schedule.

Regional transportation provider OmniRide envisions the garage as a transportation hub for eastern Prince William County and plans to integrate eight bus stops with shelters. Mary Ankers, also with the county’s department, discussed the garage’s accessibility features and stressed its importance for commuters in the area.

“They’re going to have eight bus stops with bus shelters,” Ankers explains. “And they’ll also be kiss and ride. Our friends at Transurban [the firm that manages the Interstate 95 E-ZPass Express Lanes] are also opening that new ramp to Opitz [Boulevard to provide better access to the garage].”

The project marks a significant undertaking for the county Department of Transportation, representing their first vertical project. Spread across ten acres, the garage is poised to become a vital asset for commuters in the region. Additionally, the county plans to sell approximately two acres of adjacent land to a developer, further enhancing the area’s development prospects.

The garage will be the second parking public garage in Prince William County, behind the Woodbridge Virginia Railway Express station. IKEA maintains a private garage at Potomac Mills.

New Ramp at Opitz Boulevard

Transurban’s new ramp at Opitz Boulevard will directly link commuters to the E-ZPass Express Lanes. Jacqueline Woodbridge, a spokesperson for Transurban, provided insights into the project, emphasizing its role in streamlining traffic flow and improving commuter accessibility.

“The ramp aims to provide direct access to the 95 express lanes from Opitz Boulevard,” Woodbridge stated. “Previously, travelers had to merge into the general-purpose lanes and utilize a slip ramp near Dale Boulevard. However, with the new ramp, commuters will experience a seamless transition onto the express lanes, enhancing overall travel efficiency.”

Woodbridge elaborated on the ramp’s configuration, likening it to existing structures such as those found at Franconia-Springfield Parkway and Seminary Road in Fairfax County. The ramp will feature a reversible lane structure, facilitating smooth transitions for commuters traveling northbound and southbound.

In addition to ramp construction, Opitz Boulevard enhancements are underway. Sidewalks are being built along the boulevard to improve pedestrian access—a much-needed addition to the area’s infrastructure.

The ramp should be done by June the end of the year, and the new sidewalks on Opitz Boulevard that are part of the ramp project should be finished by June. Woodbridge underscored the project’s alignment with broader initiatives to promote multimodal connectivity.

“This project underscores Transurban’s commitment to enhancing transit infrastructure,” Woodbridge emphasized. “We are proud to contribute to initiatives that promote multimodal connectivity and facilitate smoother travel experiences for commuters.”

Woodbridge also provided insights into the usage of the Express Lanes, noting a significant increase in traffic volumes on Interstate 95. Despite challenges posed by the pandemic, traffic on the express lanes has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, showcasing these vital transportation corridors’ continued relevance and utility.

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At Fredericksburg, three bridges cross the Rappahannock River to keep traffic flowing at Interstate 95 and points east. West of I-95, the closest bridge is over 40 miles away, increasing congestion and stress for many drivers.

This fueled much discussion at the “Rappahannock River Crossing Parkway Alternatives Study,” a Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting.

On the first map of several set out for the audience to view, an oval line was drawn around an area that took a chunk out of Central Park and a more significant chunk out of Stafford County near the Celebrate Virginia Parkway in Stafford County. “That’s where the data is telling us the traffic is going,” said Brad Shelton, an urban planner with Michael Baker Engineering in Richmond.

FAMPO is studying the potential of a new bridge that would link drivers on Route 17 in Stafford County to Central Park, near the Fredericksburg National’s Virginia Credit Union Stadium on Gordon Shelton Boulevard.

There were lots of opinions, though. “I’m just here to see if it will impact where we are,” said Erica Wright, who lives further west than the oval area of interest. “I’m not sure this is the sweet spot,” said another who lives in England Run Lane in Stafford. “It would be a much wiser choice to use that,” added Bill Scaife, pointing at Celebrate Virignia Parkway on the map.

On the maps, planners identified several bridge locations for a future bridge, labeling them A, B, C, D, and F so attendees could see where their house was in relation to the proposed bridge. A map showing the placements is in the slideshow above.

Options B and C were a little further from I-95. Still, a developer recently unleashed housing plans that almost eliminated B and C. Then there was D, which got plenty of attention, too, and option F, which had the crossing closer to Spotsylvania, near Cannon Ridge.

FAMPO officials said their study comparing and contrasting a range of alternatives for a new bridge over the Rappahannock River west of I-95 between Stafford County and Fredericksburg is the first step in the construction process. They add that a bridge will not be built soon, and the study findings must first be presented to the FAMPO Policy Board.

The Virginia Department of Transportation will eventually be included in the discussion over the new bridge. However, no one from the juggernaut state agency was present at the March 20 meeting, despite the agency allowing the meeting to be held in a conference room at its regional compound in Stafford County.

Although transportation, the flow of traffic, and access to destination points west of I-95 were the main themes of the meeting, some also looked at the environment and wildlife that the construction could impact. Deer, bears, foxes, coyotes, Bald Eagles, and turtles were mentioned, as well as history involving a small cemetery near England Run Lane where Reverend Greaves and his nephew Nathaniel Sanford who are buried, were all decision items.

“Right by the waterfall, there’s four more graves,” said one woman.

A voice came out of the crowd. “They were talking about ‘Tysons Cornering’ this area they were looking at,” one of the Option A Group members said.

Officials collected comments at the comment table, and the comment period will be open through April 19, 2024. There is a survey at fampo.gwregion.org/riverstudy or email comments to [email protected]. Another public meeting will be scheduled for late this summer or early Fall 2024.

Mike Salmon is a freelance reporter for Potomac Local News.

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Quantico Mayor Kevin Brown says the Marine Corps base in which his town sits will not open a closed gate that would provide emergency crews easier access to the town while brush fires rage and traffic remains snarled for five miles.

Brown said he placed multiple requests to Quantico Marine Corps Base officials to open a gate on Broadway Street. Brown said the additional access would make it easier for fire and rescue crews to access the town in an emergency.

Brown’s request was met with a “no,” and military police officers laughed at him on the phone, he said. Meanwhile, he’s still working to escalate his request higher up in the Marine Corps command chain.

The requests come as a line of cars stretches from Hosptial Point through town and up the nearly five-mile stretch of Russell Road to the base’s main gate near Dumfries.

A series of brush fires closed a portion of Route 1. Emergency crews are working to douse the flames. Drivers stuck in the backup have been texting us information and photos of what they see to 571-989-1695.

Quantico erected the gate at Broadway Street in 2020, following heightened base security rules following the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani on January 2, 2020.

Brown said Quantico opened the gate this past weekend, March 16 and 17, to allow work on the railroad to commence. The gate was closed again on the evening of March 17.

For at least two years, Brown and members of his town council have petitioned to relax those restrictions and open the Broadway gate. Brown says trains often block the town’s main entrance at Potomac Avenue, preventing anyone, including emergency vehicles, from entering or exiting.

Earlier this month, Insidenova.com reported that a Montclair resident has filed a complaint in federal court against the Department of the Navy, alleging constitutional violations in restrictions on access to the town of Quantico.

Jennifer Nikolaisen claims the Navy-Marine Corps Installation Commander’s Interim Access Control Policy has caused a violation of First and Fifth Amendment rights by restricting access to the use of Fuller Road, which is the primary point of access to and from the town of Quantico, where Nikolaisen owns private property.

A tree smashed a Prince William County School bus traveling on Linton Hall Road, at the Merrifield Garden Center near Gainesville.

There were no children on the bus. An ambulance was called to treat the driver.

We’re working to get more information. We’ll update this post as soon as we have it.

A strong cold front is bringing 50 to 60 mph wind gusts to the region.

Restriping of the Staffordboro Commuter lot in North Stafford is postponed to Saturday, March 30, due to the forecasted rainy weather on Saturday, March 23. The lot will be closed only for the weekend of March 30-31, weather permitting.

This work is part of a $900,000 maintenance project to resurface the Houser Drive Park and Ride lot in Spotsylvania County and refresh pavement markings at the Staffordboro Park and Ride lot in Stafford County.

About 55 percent of the parking lot’s 1,844 spaces were used on October 12, 2023, VDOT’s last survey of the lot.

To find an alternative Park and Ride lot location, visit the VDOT Park and Ride interactive map.

The project contractor is Allan Myers.

Message boards have been placed to notify motorists of the upcoming closure.

Planning efforts are also underway to identify and replace bus shelters and bicycle racks in area park-and-ride lots as needed.