July 10, 2014
FAIRFAX - The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), and its 95 Express Lanes partners, Transurban and Fluor, announced today that as 95 Express Lanes construction enters its final months, drivers traveling on I-95/395 in Northern Virginia should prepare for continuing lane closures and traffic impacts. Over the next six months, nearly 1,500 workers will continue to work day and night to complete the 29-miles of new Express Lanes, which are expected to open in early 2015. Motorists are advised to prepare by learning how they may be impacted when the Express Lanes open, and how the Express Lanes will work.
To accommodate remaining construction activities, drivers should expect all lanes within the current I-95/395 HOV system, from the Washington, D.C. line to Dumfries Road, Route 234, to be closed during overnight periods and weekends. Critical work that will occur involves the installation of the Express Lanes’ tolling and traffic management equipment including 3.7 million linear feet of cabling and wire, 30 overhead toll gantries, more than 200 cameras used for detecting traffic incidents, over 220 gates, 190 lane control signals and more than 100 electronic message signs. Altogether, more than 950 tolling and traffic management devices will be deployed along the 95 Express Lanes corridor.
Following installation, crews will perform a series of on-road and back-office tests to confirm that all equipment is fully functional. Additionally, crews must complete final paving and lane markings, guardrails, sound walls and bridge work. Much of the remaining construction may be less noticeable to travelers than earlier work, but still will require frequent lane closures.
“While the final phase of construction may be less visible to drivers than in the past, the 95 Express Lanes Corridor remains an active work zone, in which the safety of drivers and workers are our top priority,” remarked Susan Shaw, VDOT’s Megaprojects Director. Shaw continued, “Now more than ever, it is important for the traveling public to use caution when traveling through our work zone. When you see the orange cones and barriers, slow down for your own safety and remember that there are people working on the other side.”
In portions, the 95 Express Lanes Corridor may look complete, but motorists are advised that the lanes are not yet operational. When the Express Lanes open, every driver who travels the HOV lanes today will be impacted by new rules of the road. All drivers will need an E-ZPass to access the lanes – HOV-3+ drivers will need an E-ZPass® FlexSM to travel toll-free. Motorists are encouraged to visit 95expresslanes.com/makeaplan to learn how to prepare for the new Express Lanes .
(END)
April 18, 2014
RICHMOND — Governor Terry McAuliffe today announced that construction of the I-95 Express Lanes project is more than 70 percent complete, and remains on-schedule to be completed by the end of 2014 and open to traffic in early 2015. The first of nine new bridges being built along the 95 Express Lanes corridor in Northern Virginia, located at Telegraph road near Marine Corps Base Quantico in Stafford County, recently opened to traffic. Steel framework on the remaining new bridges also is complete.
“The progress on the 95 Express Lanes project is a visible reminder of the congestion relief and new travel choices that Virginians will have available to them in less than a year,” commented McAuliffe. “The project has also benefited jobs and business opportunities, particularly for women- and minority-owned businesses as well as small businesses. Steel work was completed by a local disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE), Interlock Steelworkers, Inc., exemplifying the Commonwealth’s commitment to providing business opportunities that support jobs and generate economic growth.
To date, the project has infused more than $127 million into the local economy through DBE and small, women, and minority-owned businesses (SWaM). With nearly $193 million committed to more than 131 DBE/SWaM firms so far, the Virginia Department of Transportation and its 95 Express Lanes partners, Transurban and Fluor, are slated to exceed their DBE/SWaM project goals of $189 million.
During the remainder of 2014, crews will continue to build-out the new lanes, while installing and testing new overhead signs, tolling gantries and other traffic management equipment. Other critical work includes constructing new sound walls to provide noise reductions to qualifying adjacent communities; building storm water management ponds; and completing final work on barriers, guardrails, paving and roadways.
The 95 Express Lanes project is a 29-mile upgrade and expansion of the HOV facility on I-95/395. For more information, visit www.VAMegaprojects.com or www.95ExpressLanes.com.
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April 14, 2014
Alexandria, Va. – Today, the 95 Express Lanes, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation, launched an educational campaign to prepare travelers for the changes coming to I-95 when the existing I-95 HOV system is converted to an Express Lanes system. The 95 Express Lanes project will bring new choices and added capacity on I-95, but will also mean changes for travelers who currently use the HOV facility. Today’s launch of the Make a Plan campaign targets those travelers who use the existing HOV lanes and will educate them on how to prepare for the changes coming to I-95.
All drivers – including carpools, sluggers, vanpools and vehicles with clean fuel plates – will need an E-ZPass® or E- ZPass® FlexSM to access the 95 Express Lanes. To learn more about E-ZPass and how the new Express Lanes will work, drivers are encouraged to visit the Make a Plan section of the 95 Express Lanes website – 95ExpressLanes.com/makeaplan. The website is tailored to I-95 travelers based on their preferred mode of travel and outlines the steps they need to take to prepare for the changes coming to I-95. Also on the website, travelers can view a video outlining what they need to do to prepare for the new Express Lanes.
While the 95 Express Lanes will extend and improve the performance of the existing HOV system, they will also bring major changes to I-95 including:
“While using the 95 Express Lanes will be easy, it’s important that all travelers make a plan for the changes the 95 Express Lanes will bring to I-95,” said Kevin Ginnerty, Director of Project Delivery, Transurban. “Many travelers use the HOV lanes today – whether for commuting, weekend or vacation trips – and it’s important that they familiarize themselves with new rules of the road for the 95 Express Lanes.”
Make a Plan is the first phase of a robust education campaign focused on arming 95 travelers with the information needed to prepare for and benefit from the 95 Express Lanes.
The 95 Express Lanes are on schedule to open in early 2015. Reversible like the HOV lanes today, the 95 Express Lanes will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The 95 Express Lanes will use dynamic tolls to keep traffic flowing and provide a more predictable travel option on I-95 between Route 610 in Stafford County to just north of the Capital Beltway. Drivers with three or more people in the vehicle will be able to travel toll-free with an E-ZPass Flex set to HOV mode. Other drivers will need an E-ZPass to pay a toll for a faster, more reliable trip on I-95.
About 95 Express Lanes
The 95 Express Lanes are high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes that will operate on I-95 to provide travelers with faster, more predictable travel options. The project will add capacity and extend and improve the performance of the existing HOV lanes. The 95 Express Lanes will operate from I-95 near Garrisonville Road in Stafford County to the vicinity of Edsall Road on I-395 in Fairfax County (approximately 29 miles). Delivered through a public-private partnership between the Virginia Department of Transportation and Transurban-Fluor, the 95 Express Lanes will give drivers the freedom to control how and when they arrive at their destination. For more information, please visit 95ExpressLanes.com.
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November 15, 2013
ALEXANDRIA, VA - Governor Bob McDonnell joined the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), Federal Highway Administration and its 95 Express Lanes partners, Transurban and Fluor, at a ribbon cutting ceremony today marking the completion of a $1.5 million stream and tree restoration effort benefiting Swan's Creek and the surrounding Southbridge Community in Prince William County. The Governor also was joined by Prince William County officials and neighboring residents as he recognized the largest stream restoration project ever completed in Prince William County - an initiative made possible by the 95 Express Lanes Project.
Beginning in January 2013, the 95 Express Lanes team restored Swan's Creek - a tributary to the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay - by installing erosion and sediment controls, placing stone along the creek bed, and micro-grading to allow for habitats and improvements to the overall water quality. The stream, which was identified more than seven years ago by Prince William County officials as severely eroded and degraded, is now feeding higher-quality water into the region's waterways.
In addition, nearly 7,500 new trees and shrubs were planted near Swan's Creek as part of the stream restoration effort. As part of today's event, officials planted the site's final dogwood tree.
The Swan's Creek stream restoration project was funded and implemented by the 95 Express Lanes Project as part of its environmental permit commitments. Project leaders worked with Prince William County to determine their highest stream improvement priority, resulting in the restoration of Swan's Creek. The stream restoration project was built by the 95 Express Lanes' design-build contractor, Fluor-Lane 95, LLC, using local small and disadvantaged contractors from Angler Environmental, Wetland Studies and Solutions, and Empire Landscaping, LLC.
The 29-mile 95 Express Lanes Project is being built in the median of I-95 and involves converting the existing HOV system to an Express Lanes system. The project includes a 14-mile expansion between Prince William Parkway to Edsall Road on I-395 and nine-mile extension from Dumfries to Garrisonville Road in Stafford County to alleviate the bottleneck where the HOV lanes end today. The lanes are 60% complete and are scheduled to open to traffic in early 2015.
October 9, 2013
RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that construction of the I-95 Express Lanes project is halfway complete and on-schedule to be completed by late 2014. The 95 Express Lanes will open to traffic in early 2015. Since breaking ground in August 2012, significant progress has been made on building new bridges, ramps, and lanes throughout the entire 29-mile Express Lanes corridor, which spans from I-395 near Edsall Road in Fairfax County to I-95 near Route 610/Garrisonville Road in Stafford County, Va.
In the coming weeks, crews will complete the last major steel lifts within the project corridor, including beams for the future flyover ramp across I-95 near Garrisonville Road in mid-October and the future flyover ramp across I-395 near Edsall Road in early November. Since starting construction of nine new bridges for the Express Lanes this past March, crews have placed more than 100 steel beams. A local disadvantaged business enterprise, Interlock Steelworkers, Inc., is performing the steel operations for the project, exemplifying VDOT’s and its partners’ commitment to providing opportunities to small and disadvantaged businesses in the local area. As crews complete these steel operations, drivers can expect fewer full closures and detours of I-95 during the Express Lanes’ final year of construction.
Speaking about this progress, Governor McDonnell remarked, “The I-95 Express Lanes are another example of how we’re using smart public-private partnerships to build critically needed transportation infrastructure in Virginia. Our administration has been committed to utilizing every means available to get new roads and rail built all across the state, because a modern transportation system is crucial to economic growth and job creation. I look forward to the completion of this project, and the shorter commutes Virginians will enjoy as a result.”
“We appreciate the patience the traveling public has shown during the last year of heavy construction on I-395/I-95 in Northern Virginia,” commented Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sean T. Connaughton. “As shown by the progress achieved in just one year, VDOT and its 95 Express Lanes partners are committed to delivering faster and more predictable travel on the I-95 corridor in record time.”
Crews also are scheduled to complete the majority of new paving that must occur throughout the future Express Lanes alignment by late 2013 – placing nearly half a million tons of asphalt along I-95. The completion of paving will provide drivers with smoother and safer travel lanes, more than a year before the Express Lanes are slated to open. The paving also allows workers to shift traffic within the HOV lanes, which is necessary to complete the new Express Lanes.
The Express Lanes construction remains in full swing throughout 2014, and drivers should expect continued traffic impacts including day and nighttime lane closures on I-95, weekend closures of the HOV lanes, limited shoulder access, and continued truck traffic entering and exiting the work zones. Motorists are urged to visit Vamegaprojects.com for the latest construction updates and traffic information.
Contact: Taylor Thornley Keeney
Phone: (804) 225-4260
Email: Taylor.Keeney@governor.virginia.gov
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http://www.vamegaprojects.com/news/featured-headlines/governor-bob-mcdonnell-announces-95-express-lanes-construction-reaches-mid-point/
August 7, 2012
PRINCE WILLIAM - Surrounded by elected officials, transportation engineers, and dignitaries, Gov. Bob McDonnell held a groundbreaking ceremony today to begin construction of the Interstate 95 Express Lanes in Northern Virginia.
The project will build 29 miles of express lanes on I-95 from Garrisonville Road in Stafford County to Edsall Road in Fairfax County, and will connect the I-95 Express Lanes to the I-495 Express Lanes currently under construction to provide a seamless network of new lanes to reduce congestion, encourage carpooling, and providing public transportation options never before available.
"For the first time, commuters will have transportation choices they never had before when traveling the I-95 corridor, said Gov. McDonnell. "This innovative public-private partnership will result in express lanes for carpoolers, sluggers and buses, while at the same time providing new transportation choices for all motorists to reach their destinations faster."
Gov. McDonnell was joined by Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sean T. Connaughton, Virginia Congressmen Rob Wittman and Gerry Connolly, House of Delegates Speaker Bill Howell, the chairs of the Fairfax, Prince William and Stafford counties boards of supervisors, and numerous other state and local officials.
When completed, there will be two new High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on I-95, extending nine miles from Dumfries to Garrisonville Road. North of Dumfries, existing I-95 HOV lanes will be improved for six miles from Route 234 to Prince William County Parkway.
North of the parkway, I-95 HOV lanes will be expanded from two to three lanes for 14 miles to Edsall Road as well as connect to the soon-to-be-completed 495 Express Lanes. The project also includes expanding and adding commuter parking lots.
The project is expected to open to traffic in early 2015.
Vehicles with three or more people will be able to ride the express lanes for free. Vehicles with one to two people can ride the express lanes for a variable toll or travel in the general purpose lanes for free. Tolls will be electronically collected using E-ZPass, eliminating the need for toll booths.
"I-95 Express Lanes will provide needed added capacity to help reduce traffic congestion," said Connaughton. "The expanded HOV options include first-time HOV access in Stafford County and a direct link to the new Express Lanes on the Capital Beltway and into Tysons Corner. The 495 and I-95 Express Lanes combined will create a region-wide, reliable pathway for carpoolers and buses, connecting major Virginia employment centers and military sites."
The project is being delivered by a public-private partnership between VDOT and 95 Express Lanes LLC (a joint venture between Transurban DRIVe and Fluor Enterprises, Inc.). This allows the commonwealth to leverage private-sector resources to build the nearly $1 billion project.
The private sector is providing $854 million in funding while VDOT's contribution is $71 million. VDOT will maintain ownership of I-95 and oversee 95 Express' activities.
The project will also have significant economic benefits, including:
Construction will contribute $1.54 billion to the state's economy (its gross state product)
New personal earnings of $464 million that will accrue to the benefit of workers residing in Virginia
Direct and indirect spending will support more than 12,600 jobs over the construction period
The benefits will be particularly realized in the communities along I-95, with nearly 2,500 jobs supported in Fairfax County, 2,600 jobs in Prince William County and nearly 900 in Stafford County
"With construction beginning today, VDOT urges motorists to pay extra attention as they are traveling through the I-95 corridor," said VDOT Commissioner Greg Whirley. "You will see a lot of construction activity, including traffic shifts, lane closures and tree clearing along the median. VDOT is committed to keeping the public informed of construction activity and impacts, and will do everything it can to keep traffic moving as smoothly as possible during construction. When the project is finished, this region will have a top-notch transportation facility that will ease congestion and advance the use of carpooling, vanpooling and transit."
During construction motorists can expect:
Existing HOV lanes will be narrowed and shifted with construction barriers installed for workers to resurface pavement, install new signage and tolling structures.
HOV lane shoulders will be narrowed with emergency pulloffs located approximately every mile.
Field offices and equipment staging areas will be setup along the 29-mile corridor to support construction.
Nightly HOV lane closures are expected for the next two years.
There will be no closures on I-95/395 general purpose lanes or HOV lanes during rush hour. In general expect 10 to 15 minutes of additional traffic delays through the construction zone during lane closures.
Trees will be cleared from the median to expand the existing roadway south of Dumfries and along the sides of the highway to build new sound walls.
Construction of nine new bridges will get under way, including four flyover ramps adding new and improved access to and from the 95 Express Lanes.
For more information, lane closure details and to sign-up for alerts, visit www.VAmegaprojects.com. Project information is also available at www.95expresslanes.com.
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http://www.virginiadot.org/newsroom/statewide/2012/gov._mcdonnell_announces_contruction59216.asp
July 31, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC - Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) entered into a comprehensive agreement and reached financial close with a group of private-sector companies to build approximately 29 miles of express lanes on I-95 from Garrisonville Road in Stafford County to Edsall Road in Fairfax County. Construction will begin on the $925 million project early next month.
"This is a historical day for transportation and the economy in Virginia," said Governor McDonnell. "In partnering with the private sector, VDOT is leveraging nearly $1 billion dollars in congestion relief for the heavily traveled Northern Virginia region. Virginia is taking bold action to move more people with fewer cars by giving them more transportation choices that will save time and money, and improve the environment. The project will also support nearly 8,000 jobs over the construction period and stimulate $2 billion in economic activity."
VDOT Commissioner Greg Whirley, in cooperation with the Office of Transportation Public-Private Partnerships, executed a comprehensive agreement and reached financial close with 95 Express Lanes LLC (a joint venture between Transurban DRIVe and Fluor Enterprises, Inc.). The agreement, signed under the Public-Private Transportation Act, allows VDOT to partner with 95 Express, which will make a substantial investment in the project and share in the financial risk of construction and operations. The agreement sets the framework for a long-term business relationship. Construction is expected to begin in 2012 and be completed by late 2014.
The project will expand and improve the existing HOV lanes from Dumfries to Edsall Road and extend new HOV lanes from Dumfries to Garrisonville Road, resulting in 29 miles of express lanes in which vehicles with three or more people can use for free. Vehicles with fewer than three passengers can choose to pay a toll to use express lanes or they can ride the general purpose lanes for free.
"The 95 Express Lanes combined with the nearly completed 495 Express Lanes will bring a transportation network that manages congestion efficiently, saving time and better connecting commuters with some of Virginia's most important employment centers and military sites," said Transportation Secretary Sean T. Connaughton.
Whirley added, "The project will bring transportation choices to commuters traveling to and from the Northern Virginia region. For the first time, commuters will have HOV access on I-95 from Dumfries to Garrisonville Road. North of Dumfries, the existing HOV lanes will be improved, resulting in better services for existing carpoolers and congestion relief."
Under the comprehensive agreement, VDOT will maintain ownership of the infrastructure and oversee 95 Express' activities. 95 Express will finance, build, operate and maintain the facility for a 76-year concession period. 95 Express will also assume risk of delivering the project on a performance-based, fixed-price, fixed-date contract, protecting users and taxpayers from cost overruns and delays.
"Virginia has again demonstrated its leadership in using innovative public-private partnerships to help deliver major transportation and economic outcomes," said Michael Kulper, president, Transurban North America. "The 95 Express Lanes will link directly to the new 495 Express Lanes to provide travelers throughout the region with faster and more predictable travel."
The key components of construction include:
Financial and tolling highlights:
Park and ride lots:
View Comprehensive Agreement.
http://www.vamegaprojects.com/news/current-alerts/gov-mcdonnell-announces-contract-to-build-95-express-lanes/
December 22, 2014
About Brain Injury Services
For the last 25 years, Brain Injury Services has been dedicated to the long-term care and well-being of survivors of traumatic brain injury. The organization has successfully developed several groundbreaking programs – from pediatric care to supported living assistance – and is committed to serving individuals with brain injuries in Virginia.
"Brain Injury Services plays a significant role in our community. We empower survivors to repair lives, recover possibilities and restore hope," said Karen Brown, Executive Director of Brain Injury Services. "We give hope and long-term help to survivors, building the skills and confidence they need to lead a fulfilling and productive life."
Brain Injury Services has helped thousands of individuals in Northern Virginia – and plans to help many more.
95 Express Lanes Grant Program Support
Brain Injury Services speaker's bureau program features knowledgeable brain injury survivors who are eager to share their experiences with the community. The speakers discuss their challenges, successes and insights with a variety of groups in the Washington, D.C. area.
"We find that there is a compassionate response and a better understanding of the challenges after the presentations," Brown said. "No one can explain, teach or talk about brain injury better than those who have experienced one themselves."
The grant funds provided by Transurban-Fluor were put toward a variety of speaker bureau items including preparing speakers, promoting the program and providing educational materials at presentations. The grant money enabled the organization to professionalize their efforts – which ultimately helps to promote the mission of the program more effectively.
As several speakers were injured in vehicle accidents, Transurban-Fluor also chose to support the organization's speaker's bureau due to their commitment to safety while driving – a main focus for Transurban-Fluor and the Express Lanes project.
More Information
To learn more about Brain Injury Services and ways to get involved, please visit www.braininjurysvcs.org.
December 22, 2014
About Keep Prince William Beautiful
Just last year, Keep Prince William Beautiful volunteers removed more than 87,000 pounds of litter from within Prince William County.
For more than 30 years, Keep Prince William Beautiful has served as the community's resource for litter cleanups. Keep Prince William Beautiful is a non-profit environmental organization that provides pre-cleanup litter education and safety training, trash bags, landfill vouchers, gloves, vests, marketing assistance and giveaways to aid in the efficiency of cleanups.
Keep Prince William Beautiful takes pride in encouraging individuals to take responsibility for improving their community's environment. To effect change in the county, the organization offers programs varying from interactive classroom lessons to hands-on community activities which help educate the community on litter removal, recycling and water quality.
95 Express Lanes Grant Program Support
The 95 Express Lanes team chose to support Keep Prince William Beautiful because its community cleanups benefit not only the 400,000+ residents of Prince William County, but also the surrounding local businesses, government and tourists.
"The 95 Express Lanes project corridor is the gateway to our community, therefore keeping the Prince William area clean impacts everyone who enters and exits our community," said Kiliaen Anderson, Executive Director of Keep Prince William Beautiful. "Keep Prince William Beautiful is very grateful for the funding provided by Transurban-Fluor. Without the support, we would not have been able to provide the necessary supplies for our cleanups."
Trash grabbers, heavy-duty gloves and safety signs were purchased with the funding provided by Transurban-Fluor. The funding helped to ensure the safety of more than 700 volunteers and 40 home owners associations who participated in the spring cleanup, and resulted in the removal of more than 85,615 pounds of litter from within the county.
More Information
To find out more about Keep Prince William Beautiful and ways to get involved, visit www.kpwb.org.
December 22, 2014
On May 11, 2013, local Cub Scouts participated in a volunteer event to landscape an area off I-95 southbound near the Centreport Parkway exit ramp in Stafford County. The Cub Scouts, from Aquia District Pack 213, were joined by Virginia Delegate Mark Dudenhefer, Stafford County Supervisor Cord Sterling and representatives from the 95 Express Lanes project.
The volunteers and elected officials in attendance planted more than 20 trees, provided under the 1,000 Trees in 1,000 Days program. Through the program, Transurban-Fluor is partnering with communities located near the 95 Express Lanes corridor to plant 1,000 trees over the course of the project's construction.
Delegate Mark Dudenhefer and Supervisor Cord Sterling identified the Centreport Parkway area as a good candidate for the 1,000 Trees program.