Exit 140 Diverging Diamond Interchange and Courthouse Road Widening Project
Talking Points
June 29, 2017
Exit 140 Diverging Diamond Interchange Project: $149.4 million
Courthouse Road Widening Project: $35.9 million
Construction starts: July 2017
Construction ends: July 2020
Design-Build Team: Shirley Contracting Company, LLC and Dewberry Consultants, LLC
What are the benefits for drivers and residents?
Diverging Diamond Interchange
Modernizes Exit 140 interchange with new ramps and bridges to accommodate current and future traffic volumes, and keep traffic flowing smoothly off the interstate to reduce and prevent I-95 congestion
- In a diverging diamond interchange (DDI), vehicles are briefly shifted to the opposite side of the road, controlled by traffic signals
- This innovative design eliminates traditional left turns that cross over oncoming traffic
- Diverging diamond interchanges (DDIs) improve safety by reducing the number of spots where vehicles could collide
- DDIs can handle more left-turn movements per hour, twice the capacity of a conventional interchange
Courthouse Road
When the project is complete in July 2020, Courthouse Road will have four lanes from Route 1 to Ramoth Church Road, a distance of just over 3 miles
- Courthouse Road will intersect with Route 1 at Hospital Center Boulevard, across from Stafford Hospital
- To assist traffic entering Colonial Forge High School, a new traffic signal will be activated at the school entrance in late August 2017. This signal will be equipped with pedestrian crossing features
- By the end of construction in 2020, a new traffic signal will be activated at the intersection of Ramoth Church Road and Winding Creek Road, which will be realigned to intersect directly at the new signal
Commuter Parking
- Two new commuter lots will open along the relocated Courthouse Road east of Interstate 95. The lots will have a combined total of 1,100 parking spaces. This doubles the existing parking at Courthouse Road, which today has only 545 spaces.
- The largest lot will have dedicated carpool/vanpool pickup and dropoff area to assist with High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) use
- Bus passengers will have a dedicated dropoff and pickup area
- Current lot users will see no change until summer 2018. The existing Park & Ride lot west of I-95 will remain open until that time.
- In summer 2018, the existing lot will be closed, and users will be shifted to a temporary lot east of I-95
Pedestrian Features
- Bicyclists, walkers and runners will see improved pedestrian facilities along Courthouse Road when the project is complete.
- On the north side of Courthouse Road, a 10 foot wide paved shared use path will be built from Ramoth Church Road to the new I-95 interchange.
- On the south side of Courthouse Road, a 5 foot wide sidewalk will be constructed from Ramoth Church Road to just east of Colonial Forge High School.
- In addition, new sidewalk will connect the new Park & Ride lot on the north side of relocated Courthouse Road to the Stafford County Government Center and Route 1.
Traffic Impacts
- Drivers can expect lanes to stay open during morning and evening rush hour
- Outside of rush hour, lane closures will be needed at midday and overnight hours to widen the road and build new interchange bridges
- As drivers adjust to the work zone, consider adding several minutes of travel time when leaving for work or school.
- Travelers can expect to see construction equipment and signs, temporary lane markings, and traffic shifts.
- Drivers can help by eliminating distractions in the work zone, reducing your speed, and following direction from our crews.