VDOT News - Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – During April, construction crews will start a safety widening project along sections of Route 635 (Decatur Road) and Route 628 (Ramoth Church Road) in Stafford County to expand the road shoulders.

Widening the shoulders will provide more recovery space for drivers if their vehicle strays from the travel lanes. The project is intended to reduce the risk of crashes and injuries that can result from vehicles running off the road.

Weather permitting, widening work is scheduled for Decatur Road between Widewater Road and Norman Road during the week of April 13-17 and April 20-24. Around 1.5 miles of Decatur Road will be widened.

Once work is complete on Decatur Road, crews will move to Ramoth Church Road in late April to early May. Widening on Ramoth Church Road will occur at spot locations between I-95 and Courthouse Road, which is a distance of approximately 4.5 miles. Work on Ramoth Church Road will be underway for an estimated two weeks.

When widening work begins, motorists can expect brief delays on Decatur Road and Ramoth Church Road and one-way, alternating traffic directed by a flagging crew. Crews will work between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Construction will occur in two phases. Widening work is scheduled to occur before Decatur Road and Ramoth Church Road are paved later this year.

A new layer of asphalt will cover the widened area to create a uniform appearance and smooth travel surface. New centerline lane markings will be painted for a brighter and more reflective appearance.

This project is a partnership between Stafford County and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). 

With Decatur Road and Ramoth Church Road already scheduled to be paved this year by VDOT, Stafford invested around $400,000 in county transportation funding to widen the shoulders of Decatur Road and Ramoth Church Road by approximately 1 foot. Decatur Road and Ramoth Church Road safety improvements were approved by county voters in a November 2019 bond referendum.

“We appreciate the opportunity to work together to improve safety for travelers on these roads,” said Lynne Keenan, VDOT Fredericksburg Residency Administrator. “As soon as paving work is scheduled for this summer as part of a separate contract, we will announce specific dates so area residents can plan to avoid any brief delays.”

The precise widening width will vary along each road based on the location of adjacent utilities and drainage facilities.

The widening project contractor is Howard Bros., Inc.

Before widening work begins, residents and motorists may observe mobile utility marking work and VDOT staff along the shoulder of Decatur and Ramoth Church Road. Crews are preparing the work zone for the project. All travel lanes will remain open during this preliminary work.

On their busiest segments, Decatur Road carries around 1,900 vehicles a day and Ramoth Church Road carries 2,900 vehicles a day. Both roads have two travel lanes, and will remain two lanes after the widening and paving.

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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.

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