VDOT News - Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – New passing lanes opened to traffic today on Route 3 in Westmoreland County, providing an opportunity for drivers to safely pass slower-moving vehicles in this designated area.

This $12.7 million project built eastbound and westbound passing lanes over a 1.5-mile segment of Route 3 to reduce congestion.

Route 3 was widened to four lanes, from north of Route 639 (Winter Harbor Road) to east of Route 624 (Longwood Road). Each travel lane is 12 feet wide, with a 4-foot paved shoulder on each side of the road.

Left turn lanes were added on Route 3 eastbound at the intersection with Longwood Road and on Route 3 westbound at Winter Harbor Road and Route 761 (Falls Hill Road).

A separate $1 million project to lengthen the right turn lane on Route 3 eastbound to Route 624 (Flat Iron Road) was accomplished as part of this construction work zone and contract.

Construction on the project began in January, and is finishing several weeks ahead of schedule.

The project contractor was J.L. Kent and Sons, Inc., of Fredericksburg.

Motorists are reminded to always adhere to posted speed limits. The posted speed limit on Route 3 in this area is 55 mph.

An average of 7,200 vehicles a day travel Route 3 in the project area.

Project Background

Westmoreland County submitted an application to build this passing lanes project through Virginia’s SMART SCALE transportation funding program.

SMART SCALE was established to choose the right transportation projects for funding and ensure the best use of limited tax dollars. Potential projects that have been determined to meet a need identified in VTrans – the state’s long-range multi-modal transportation plan – are scored based on safety, congestion, accessibility, land use, economic development and the environment.

Once projects are scored and prioritized, the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) has the best information possible to select projects for funding.

To view how funded SMART SCALE projects are advancing toward construction, visit the SMART SCALE Dashboard.

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VDOT’s 14-county Fredericksburg District includes the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford in the Fredericksburg area; Northumberland, Richmond, Lancaster and Westmoreland counties in the Northern Neck; Essex, Gloucester, King & Queen, King William, Mathews and Middlesex counties in the Middle Peninsula.

Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.