95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension Now Fully Open to Traffic! | |
On December 8th, new 95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension (Fred Ex) access points opened for travelers. In addition to the access points that opened in August of this year, drivers now have direct access to Courthouse Road/Route 630, an entry to the Express Lanes from I-95 North local lanes, and a new entry and exit ramp from I-95 near Quantico. The new ramps provide faster access to the Marine Corps Base Quantico and the area's 28,000 workers. | |
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Completion of the extension creates the longest reversible road in the United States, spanning nearly 50 miles. Since opening, the Fred Ex corridor has enabled over one million trips, with more than 18% riding for free by using the HOV-3+ toll exemption.
Fred Ex delivers 66% more capacity along ten miles of I-95, one of the nation's busiest corridors. With the increased capacity, evening rush hour travelers have saved about 35 minutes on average by taking the Express Lanes from Washington, DC to the Fredericksburg area. Travelers in the general-purpose lanes for the same trip have saved about 20 minutes on average due to the increased capacity and reduced congestion.
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August 17 Mainline Opening
Prior to the new access points opening in December, the Fred Ex corridor opened for end-to-end travel on August 17, 2023. Opening the facility to through travelers during the summer provided immediate congestion relief and time savings. Within the first 100 days of opening to traffic, the Fredericksburg Extension moved over 750,000 vehicles on the Express Lanes.
The ribbon cutting celebration for the August opening was attended by Governor Glenn Youngkin, Senator Tim Kaine, Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sheppard "Shep" Miller III, Senior Vice President for Transurban North America Amanda Baxter, Acting President for Transurban North America Michael Discenza, and Garrisonville District Supervisor Dr. Pamela Yeung, along with the Fred Ex project team and community members.
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For more information about the project and using the new access points, visit ExpressLanes.com and Improve95.org. | |
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Noise Barriers
Noise barrier construction activities began on September 30, 2022 and are expected to be completed in early 2024. Construction of noise barriers will be completed in two phases, Phase 1: Post Installation and Phase 2: Panel Installation.
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Noise barrier near the athletic fields at Chichester Park
(Barrier UU)
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Barrier UU is located along northbound I-95, between Truslow Road and Enon Road, adjacent to the athletic fields at Chichester Park and near Stafford High School.
Construction began in September 2022 and was completed in April 2023
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Noise Barrier near Austin Ridge HOA community
(Barrier OO)
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Barrier OO is located along southbound I-95, adjacent to Tavern Road and near the Austin Ridge HOA neighborhood.
Construction began in November 2022 and was completed in June 2023.
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Noise Barrier near Bells Hill Road neighborhoods
(Barrier PP)
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Barrier PP is located along northbound I-95, from near the Terraces of Bells Run to the neighborhood on Daffodil Lane.
Construction began in March 2023 and is expected to be completed in early 2024.
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Crews have been hard at work since 2019 to deliver the extended 95 Express Lanes. Milestones throughout the project include building sound walls, setting bridge girders spanning the width of I-95, hanging overhead signs, installing toll gantries, and paving and striping roadways. | |
New American Legion Road Overpass Construction | |
Demolition of the old bridge | |
Construction of the new bridge | |
Completion of the new bridge | |
Toll gantry installation took place day and night to prepare the corridor for opening to travlers | |
New Exit to I-95 South Local Lanes / Rt. 17 Construction | |
Girder erection for the overpass | |
Construction of the overpass | |
Bridge deck laid for the overpass | |
Bridge and Overpass Girder Erections | |
To build new overpasses and bridges, steel girders, or bridge beams, were erected along the corridor | |
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I-95/I-395 Express Lanes Awarded in Top 10 Roads by Roads & Bridges Magazine
No. 9: America's Longest Reversible Road
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Roads & Bridges' Top 10 Roads awards, created in 2000, recognize the top projects in North America. Each year, nominations are submitted to the R&B editorial staff, which determines the Top 10 list based on project challenges, impact to region and scope of work.
The I-95/I-395 Express Lanes was named number 9 on the Top Roads of 2023. Read the full story online here or access the Nov/Dec 2023 digital issue of Roads & Bridges Magazine here.
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Have you ever wondered about some of the raw statistics behind the Fred Ex initiative? Here is a glimpse of Fred Ex by some of the numbers that are making the project happen! | |
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Up-to-Date Information Available
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Motorists can check 511Virginia.org for real-time updates on work zones and traffic conditions.
For information on the current direction of the 95 and 395 Express Lanes, visit ExpressLanes.com.
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Fred Ex Community Grant Program
The Fred Ex Community Grant Program is designed to support organizations that sustain and enhance neighborhoods and the community and protect the local environment in the greater Fredericksburg area. This program has been available throughout construction of the I-95 Fredericksburg Extension project.
To date, Transurban has contributed over $500,000 in community grants throughout Fredericksburg and Stafford County, supporting more than 80 nonprofit organizations committed to community strength, environmental stability, and improved safety.
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Sponsorship Spotlight
Transurban Invests in Fredericksburg Community with Grant Contribution to Virginia Infrastructure Academy
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On Monday, December 4th, 2023, Transurban was proud to present a $250,000 grant to the Virginia Infrastructure Academy at Germanna Community College. | |
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Transurban North America, operator of the 95, 395, and 495 Express Lanes, celebrated the imminent opening of the final new access points to the 95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension with a $250,000 grant to the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education (VFCCE) to support the Virginia Infrastructure Academy (VIA) at Germanna Community College.
Joined by the VFCCE, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), elected officials, and community members, Transurban presented the contribution that will go toward VIA’s mission to train individuals, including our military veterans, for careers in infrastructure. Transurban’s contribution to VIA rounds out to over $500,000 in community grants throughout Fredericksburg and Stafford County.
Read more about the grant contribution and partnership between Transurban, VFCCE, and VIA here.
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