VDOT News - Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Construction begins next week to improve travel for pedestrians in Gloucester County at the northern intersection of Route 17 and Route 17 Business (Main Street), and between this intersection and McFadden Way.

The $950,000 project, funded through Virginia’s SMART SCALE program, is scheduled to be completed in late January 2021.

The project enhances safety and provides new pedestrian access between residential areas, commercial destinations and employment centers in this area.

Six new crosswalks will be built at various points at these two intersections, and they will connect with around 1,100 feet of new sidewalk with handicapped-accessible ramps. Two concrete islands, also known as a pedestrian refuge, will be built to provide a protected location for pedestrians to stand while crossing Route 17. Pedestrian crossing equipment will be installed at crossing locations.

During construction, drivers should be alert for crews and equipment operating in the vicinity of these intersections.

Work will be underway on weekdays during daytime hours, with periodic lane closures. During the week of Aug. 17-21, crews will begin to install work zone signs and mobilize equipment.

When construction advances to build the pedestrian refuge islands, left turns from Route 17 Business northbound to Route 17 southbound will be temporarily prohibited for several weeks. During that time, through traffic traveling from Route 17 Business northbound straight across the intersection to Route 619 (Fiddlers Green Road) will also be prohibited.

Specific dates for this temporary traffic pattern change will be announced in advance. Detour signs will be posted directing motorists to turn right onto Route 17 northbound, and to make a U-turn at the next available intersection at McFadden Way.

The project contractor is Howard Brothers Contractor, Inc., of Providence Forge, Va.

Construction at this intersection is being accomplished as part of the same contract building new sidewalk along Route 17 southbound at Gloucester Point. Learn more about this sidewalk construction project.

Project Background

Gloucester County submitted an application to build this 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.

Stay Updated

Real-time updates on this work zone, lane closures and congestion will be available on 511Virginia.

Download the free mobile 511Virginia app for Apple and Android devices to stay connected, or visit www.511Virginia.org. Motorists also can reach 511Virginia by calling 511 from any phone in Virginia.

Follow VDOT Fredericksburg District on Twitter at @VaDOTFRED 

Read Hot Spots, the weekly list of scheduled lane closures in the Fredericksburg District, including for this project. This list is published every Friday afternoon for the following week.

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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.