FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) advises drivers with destinations outside the Fredericksburg area to consider an alternate route to Interstate 95 to avoid major delays with ongoing construction and maintenance work planned for this week.

Starting tonight, July 25 through early Friday, July 29, I-95 northbound and southbound will be reduced to one lane overnight near various interchanges between exit 148 (Quantico) for Express Lanes construction to exit 104 (Carmel Church) in Caroline County for paving operations.

Full traffic stops on I -95 are necessary as bridge beam installation will continue for the future flyover bridge to Quantico as part of the 95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension Project.

Between midnight and 3 a.m., crews will stop all I-95 northbound or southbound traffic up to 30 minutes at a time to safely lift and install the outside bridge beams. Virginia State Police will assist with traffic control and clear the congestion before the next full traffic stop.

The new flyover bridge will give drivers access to the Express Lanes to and from Russell Road. It’s one of three new access points being built as part of the project in Stafford County. Once construction is complete, travelers will be able to access the Express Lanes at exit 148, exit 140 (Courthouse Road) and exit 133 (Route 17).

At exit 130 (Route 3) in Fredericksburg, overnight lane closures are needed to allow crews to conduct routine safety inspections of the Route 3 overpasses.

In Spotsylvania County and Caroline, nighttime milling and paving operations will resume each evening, which requires double lane closures.

Before starting a trip, motorists are encouraged to check 511Virginia.org for real-time updates on work zones and traffic conditions.

Updated work schedules will be shared in news releases, which are posted on www.VirginiaDOT.org and shared through VDOT’s Fredericksburg District Twitter account and Fredericksburg District Facebook page.

Work zones on I-95 are also included in the weekly lane closure list, Hot Spots, which is posted on Friday afternoons to VDOT’s Travel Center page.

Starting Tuesday, Aug. 2, drivers on I-95 southbound seeking Route 17 northbound towards Warrenton or Route 17 southbound towards Falmouth will use a new, permanent ramp, which is located approximately a half mile before the decision point between local and through lanes. The new ramp is just north of the Truslow Road overpass.

Drivers with destinations to Route 17 will need to stay right on I-95 southbound after exit 136 (Centreport Parkway) since the new traffic pattern shifts the decision point earlier for southbound travelers.

The permanent traffic pattern will divide local traffic between Route 17 and Route 3 at an earlier point to reduce merging and weaving approaching the exit 133 interchange.

Southbound travelers seeking Route 17 will be divided by concrete barrier before the division of local and through lanes.

Click here to view an online map.

For more information on this work zone, please visit expresslanes.com. 

Motorists can find real-time information on lane closures, work zones, traffic and other incidents on 511Virginia.

Download the free mobile 511Virginia app for Apple and Android devices to stay connected, or visit www.511Virginia.org. Motorists also can reach 511Virginia by calling 511 from any phone in Virginia.