OCCOQUAN, Va. — Traffic congestion is a major problem in the D.C. region, especially along Interstate 95. If you've ever driven on I-95 southbound, you are likely familiar with the bottleneck situation near the Occoquan River crossing.
A new Virginia Department of Transportation project set to open next month hopes to ease some of that congestion.
The I-95 Southbound Auxiliary Lane in Prince William County is a project more than four years in the making. Crews have converted a mile-and-a-half stretch of the existing shoulder into a new travel lane.
It runs from the exit ramp from Route 123 (Gordon Boulevard) to Prince William Parkway (Route 294). That extra lane will give travelers more space and more time to merge over.
According to VDOT, more than 80,000 cars use the southbound lanes in that area every single day. Virginia State Senator Scott Surovell told WUSA9 in a previous interview that the bottleneck at the Occoquan Bridge on I-95 south is the No. 1 complaint he receives from his constituents.
"It backs up Monday through Friday. It backs up in the morning, it backs up in the afternoon, it backs up in the middle of the day. It backs up Saturday and Sunday. It backs up in both directions. All the time. Every day of the week," said Surovell.
In addition to the new travel lane, drivers will also see new roadway lighting, a newly paved shoulder, new noise barriers and guardrails. Overall, the nearly $24 million project should make this a much better experience for drivers.
The project is being completed as part of the I-95 Corridor Improvement Plan, and is financed with a portion of the concession fee provided under the I-95 Express Lanes Project Comprehensive Agreement.
There is a ribbon cutting ceremony planned for April 27 in the Horner Road Commuter lot at 10 a.m. The lane will officially open to drivers sometime in mid-May.
Estimated Project Cost:
- Preliminary Engineering: $3.5 million
Construction: $20.2 million
Total: $23.7 million