An upcoming meeting and recent movement on a major bridge project underlines what the future might hold for drivers along a major Virginia corridor where population and traffic is expected to grow in the coming decades.
The Virginia Department of Transportation will host a public meeting this week unveiling preliminary findings on a U.S. 301 corridor study. The two-phase study covers a 42-mile stretch of U.S. 301 and S.R. 207, from U.S. 1 in Caroline County to the Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge from King George County into Maryland.
Along with the findings of the study, the proposed project to replace the Nice Bridge took another step forward last week when the Commonwealth Transportation Board agreed to allow Virginia to work with Maryland’s transportation department to take needed steps in the plan to replace the span across the Potomac River.
The corridor study is focused on such things as traffic volume and traffic signal configuration in an effort to plan for population growth and heavier use of the highway. The first phase covers a 12-mile stretch of U.S. 301, from S.R. 3 to the bridge. The second phase will focus on a 30-mile stretch of U.S. 301 and S.R. 207, from S.R. 3 in King George to U.S. 1 in Caroline.
The plan to rebuild the 77-year-old Nice Bridge will be a major part of handling future traffic in the corridor. The new 1.7-mile bridge will be expanded from two to four lanes, with a raised median and a pedestrian and bike path. Part of the bridge project is expected to take in property around the King George side.
Work is set to start in 2020 and be completed in 2023.
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Source: Free-Lance Star
