Construction begins on I-95 in Virginia

Posted by IronPlanet on Aug 9, 2012 1:41:00 AM

Interstate-95, which runs along the East Coast, has been crowded with more than just everyday traffic, as drivers have likely seen excavators, cement mixers and other construction equipment in a few areas along the highway. The latest project to get underway is taking place on a 29-mile stretch of I-95 near Washington, D.C., where construction workers will be adding express lanes to the highway between Virginia's Garrisonville Road in Stafford County and Edsall Road in Fairfax County, according to Fairfax News.

"For the first time, commuters will have transportation choices they never had before when traveling the I-95 corridor," Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell said at the groundbreaking ceremony, according to the news source. He explained that the intention of the construction is to reduce traffic congestion and provide travelers with a wider variety of options when it comes to reaching their destination faster.

This project will result in two new nine-mile-long high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes that will connect with six miles of HOV lanes that are being renovated and repaired, up to the Prince William County Parkway. North of that point, the two HOV lanes will be expanded into three and connected to the express lanes on Route 495.

The project will cost an estimated $1 billion to complete, and is being handled by two private companies - Transurban DRIVe and Fluor Enterprises, Inc., The Washington Post reports. The main goal of the expansion is to ease congestion, which can get a bit overwhelming due to the close proximity to the nation's capital.

This is not the only construction project currently taking place along I-95. The highway passes through New York City by way of the George Washington Bridge, and this stretch is also getting some work done. Specifically, renovations on the Alexander Hamilton Bridge that connects Manhattan and the Bronx began in July and are expected to take until October to complete, The Bergen Record reports. The $409 million project is expected to ease traffic congestion as well, once the work is done.

Even farther north, I-95 is slated to get another makeover. This time, the work will take place in Needham, Mass., and involves expanding the highway as well as some reconstruction on four different bridges in Needham, according to Wicked Local. This stretch of the interstate will get an additional lane on either side as well as ample shoulder room for disabled vehicle safety.

Topics: Construction, Industry Headlines