x
Breaking News
More () »

New lane coming to I-95 to ease notorious Occoquan bottleneck

VDOT has transformed a mile-and-a-half stretch of the existing shoulder to a travel lane near the Occoquan River crossing. The lane is set to open in May.

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

   

WUSA9 is now on Roku and Amazon Fire TVs. Download the apps today for live newscasts and video on demand.

Download the WUSA9 app to get breaking news, weather and important stories at your fingertips.

Sign up for the Get Up DC newsletter: Your forecast. Your commute. Your news.
Sign up for the Capitol Breach email newsletter, delivering the latest breaking news and a roundup of the investigation into the Capitol Riots on January 6, 2021.

Before You Leave, Check This Out