VDOT News - Fredericksburg

Monday, Aug. 14, 2023: A traffic signal activation and traffic shift scheduled for today on Ladysmith Road was postponed until Tuesday, Aug. 15. Crews will shift traffic to the outermost lanes between I-95 and a median crossover near Center Dr. The new traffic signal at the Sheetz intersection will be activated.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – A major traffic shift on Route 639 (Ladysmith Road) in Caroline County is set for Monday, Aug. 14 as work advances to widen the two-lane road to four lanes from Interstate 95 to Route 1.

Crews will be shifting traffic to the outermost lanes on Ladysmith Road to build the center travel lanes.

The signal at the Sheetz intersection is currently in flash to allow drivers to adjust to its presence. The signal will go into full-color operation Monday, Aug. 14.

Ladysmith Road will remain two travel lanes, one eastbound and one westbound, in the work zone until construction is complete in spring 2024.

Message boards have been placed to alert motorists of the upcoming traffic shift.

The $26.4 million project is building four travel lanes nearly a mile in distance on Ladysmith Road, a 10-foot wide, paved shared-use path for pedestrians and bicyclists, a 5-foot-wide sidewalk at the Route 1 intersection, crosswalks and new traffic signal equipment will be installed for pedestrian crossings.

Project Background

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

Caroline County submitted an application to assist in funding this project through Virginia’s SMART SCALE program. Additional funding is being provided through VDOT’s revenue-sharing program, which matches county funds with state transportation dollars.

The project seeks to reduce current and future congestion in the Ladysmith area by providing more capacity for travelers, and to promote economic development at this gateway entrance to the Caroline community.

Widening Ladysmith Road will create room for dual left turn lanes for eastbound and westbound traffic at the Route 1 intersection to reduce delays for drivers. Dedicated right turn lanes will also be built for Ladysmith Road traffic approaching Route 1.

Motorists should be alert for construction crews and slow-moving equipment operating in the work zone on Route 1 and Ladysmith Road until May 2024.

Around 11,000 vehicles a day travel on Ladysmith Road in the project corridor, according to a 2021 VDOT traffic count.

511Virginia

Motorists can find real-time information on lane closures, work zones, traffic and other incidents on 511Virginia.

Download the free mobile 511Virginia app for Apple and Android devices to stay connected, or visit http://www.511Virginia.org. Motorists also can reach 511Virginia by calling 511 when they are not operating a motor vehicle or while using a hands-free device.

Do not use a handheld cell phone or mobile device while driving (it’s the law).

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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.