The Virginia Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing Sept. 30 on a plan to build a trail to connect Dixon Park in Fredericksburg with the cul-de-sac at the eastern end of Caroline Street.
The project will build an approximately 10-foot-wide paved trail, a bridge over Hazel Run, retaining walls and pedestrian/bicycle crossings under a limited access highway (Route 3/Blue and Gray Parkway). Two potential trail alignments between Caroline and Dixon Park are being considered.
As part of the project, on-the-road bicycle facilities would be built on Caroline between the end of the paved trail at the cul-de-sac and the Fredericksburg train station.
Between the cul-de-sac and Dixon Street, the proposed design has “sharrow” pavement markings, indicating that vehicle and bicycle traffic should share the road. The project will also build dedicated bicycle lanes between Dixon and Frederick streets.
Fredericksburg submitted an application to fund the project through Virginia’s SMART SCALE funding program.
The Sept. 30 public hearing will be from 5-7 p.m. at the Walker-Grant Center, 210 Ferdinand St., Fredericksburg, VA 22401.
The public can stop by anytime during the meeting to review displays and plans and discuss questions with VDOT and Fredericksburg staff.
The public can view meeting materials on the project page and submit comments using an online survey. Comments on the project will be accepted at the hearing and afterward through Oct. 10.
Comments may be emailed to [email protected]. Please reference “Dixon Park Connector Trail” in the email subject line. They also can be mailed to Mr. Byrd Holloway, VDOT Senior Project Manager, 87 Deacon Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22405.
Interstate 95 ramp closure
Construction to improve the Interstate 95 interchange at Exit 126 (Spotsylvania) will close an off-ramp overnight this week, VDOT said.
The northbound I-95 off-ramp to Route 1 southbound (Exit 126B) will be closed Wednesday and Thursday nights from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. It will reopen early Friday.
Northbound I-95 motorists should use the most convenient alternate interchange, either Exit 118 (Thornburg) or Exit 130 (Route 3).
The $42 million project to improve the exit 126 interchange will:
- Add an I-95 northbound auxiliary lane near Exit 126
- Widen Route 1 to add a second left turn lane onto I-95 northbound and southbound
- Widen the I-95 on-ramps at the intersection
- Build two noise barriers along I-95 southbound
Construction is scheduled to be complete in September 2027.
The public can check 511Virginia for updates on this closure.
Caroline bridge project
As construction progresses to improve the condition of the Route 207 (Rogers Clark Boulevard) northbound bridge over the Mattaponi River in Caroline County, motorists should be alert for a traffic diversion beginning next week, VDOT said.
Weather permitting, Route 207 northbound will close at the bridge Sept. 30 to allow crews to work on the bridge’s superstructure replacement.
During the closure, northbound Route 207 traffic will be diverted to cross the Mattaponi using the Route 207 southbound bridge, with one travel lane open in each direction. Route 207 northbound will remain closed until the completion of the project.
The speed limit on Route 207 in the work zone has been reduced temporarily from 60 mph to 45 mph.
The Route 207 northbound bridge will reopen to traffic in April.
An average of 12,000 vehicles a day travel Route 207.
Message boards will be posted to notify drivers of the upcoming closure and diversion.
The $9.6 million project is being funded through Virginia’s State of Good Repair program. Crews are replacing the superstructure of the existing bridge, including steel plate girders, the concrete deck, bridge railing and bridge approaches. The project is also repairing the bridge’s substructure.
The project contractor is Kokosing Construction Co. Inc.
