FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – A new traffic signal on Route 17 at the Interstate 95 interchange in Stafford County will be activated next week. 

The signal will control traffic exiting I-95 southbound at exit 133 to northbound Route 17 toward Warrenton. Exiting interstate traffic will use two new dual right turn lanes on the off-ramp, which will be controlled by the new traffic signal. 

When Route 17 northbound traffic is stopped on a red signal, motorists on the I-95 southbound off-ramp will have a green signal, providing free-flowing conditions to turn right onto Route 17 northbound. This will reduce congestion that can occur as ramp traffic merges onto Route 17 northbound near the Sanford Drive and South Gateway Drive intersection. 

Click here to view an online map of temporary traffic pattern. 

I-95 southbound traffic traveling to Route 17 Business south toward Falmouth will continue to use the loop off-ramp.  

The new traffic signal is being installed as part of the I-95 Northbound Rappahannock River Crossing project, which remains on schedule for completion by May 2024. Improvements are underway at the Route 17 interstate interchange as part of the $132 million project. 

Starting late Sunday, July 30, the traffic signal will begin to flash to allow drivers to adjust to its presence. The signal will go into full color operation overnight Wednesday, Aug. 2 and will be active for the Thursday morning commute. 

The I-95 southbound off-ramp to Route 17 north will close at 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 2 to allow crews to shift traffic to the new signalized alignment. 

The detour for drivers exiting I-95 southbound seeking Route 17 northbound will be the following:   

• Exit 133 A to Route 17 south toward Falmouth
• Short Street
• Thomas Lane
• Olde Forge Drive to Route 17 north 

The ramp closure and detour will end when the signal goes into full color operation, which is expected to be complete by 4:30 a.m. Thursday. 

When construction on the Rappahannock River Crossing is finished in May 2024, the final traffic pattern in this area will include: 

• Third right turn lane from I-95 southbound off-ramp to Route 17 northbound
• Dual left turn lanes from northbound Route 17 to Sanford Drive
• Right turn only lane from northbound Route 17 to South Gateway Drive
• Restored third Route 17 northbound through travel lane 

Click here to view an online map of final traffic pattern on Route 17 northbound from I-95 southbound to Sanford Drive and South Gateway drive. 

While the new traffic signal is being activated, a temporary traffic pattern remains necessary to give crews adequate space to build the additional lanes, sidewalk, and drainage systems underway in this area as part of the project. 

The I-95 Northbound Rappahannock River Crossing will provide six I-95 northbound lanes across the Rappahannock River, a new I-95 northbound off-ramp bridge over Route 17, a fourth travel lane for I-95 northbound traffic between exit 133 and exit 136 (Centreport Parkway), and sidewalk along Route 17 northbound between Short Street and South Gateway Drive/Sanford Drive. 

Visit the project page to learn more about the project.

511Virginia

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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.