I-95 EXIT 140 DIVERGING DIAMOND INTERCHANGE

ABOUT

• The new Exit 140 interchange is located slightly south of the existing interchange, with new overpasses carrying Courthouse Road traffic over the interstate.
• The new Courthouse Road aligns with an extended Hospital Center Boulevard, which connects with Route 1 directly across from Stafford Hospital.
• West of I-95, Courthouse Road was widened to four lanes as far west as Ramoth Church Road and Winding Creek Road.
• Commuter parking expands to two VDOT Park & Ride lots with a combined 1,100 spaces. These lots will have direct access to the extended 95 Express Lanes when they open in 2022.
• All lanes of I-95 built through the I-95 Southbound Rappahannock River Crossing project will be untolled and open to all traffic.

PROJECT OVERVIEW

• Total estimated cost: $195 million
• Estimated completion date: Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) at Exit 140 opens Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019; All construction complete by July 31, 2020

PROJECT NEWS & EVENTS

DIVERGING DIAMOND INTERCHANGE (DDI)

A diverging diamond interchange (DDI) is an innovative design that is increasingly being used by state transportation departments. The ramp configuration is similar to a traditional diamond interchange. However, traffic on the cross street, Courthouse Road, will switch sides. Traffic is shifted to the left side of the road, which allows vehicles turning left to enter an interstate on-ramp without stopping at a traffic signal.

• Frequently asked questions

A traffic analysis, in the form of an Interchange Modification Report, has been performed on the diverging diamond interchange concept. The findings, approved by the Federal Highway Administration, are below:

• Supplement to the Interchange Modification Report

BENEFITS

• Diverging Diamond Interchanges (DDIs) lower the number of conflict points between vehicles by eliminating left turns.
• The new interchange briefly shifts vehicles on Courthouse Road to the other side of the road on new overpass bridges, which allows drivers to merge left onto the I-95 northbound and southbound ramps without stopping at a traffic signal.
• A wider Courthouse Road provides more lane capacity, and a new connection with Route 1.
• The intersection Ramoth Church Road and Winding Creek Road has been realigned. New traffic signals were added to the entrance of Colonial Forge High School and the Liberty Knolls subdivision, and the intersection of Ramoth Church Road and Winding Creek Road.
• Two new Park & Ride lots with a combined 1,100 parking spaces are under construction as part of this project. The new lots are located east of I-95. During construction, a temporary lot remains open with 545 parking spaces to provide continuous Park & Ride access at Exit 140.
• By spring 2020, the finished Park & Ride lots will open with a dedicated pickup and dropoff area for buses, carpools, vanpools and public transit.

SCHEDULE

The new Diverging Diamond Interchange opened to traffic on December 7, 2019.

July 2017: Construction begins

December 7, 2019: Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) opens to traffic, along with the four-lane, extended Hospital Center Boulevard from Route 1 to the new Courthouse Road and DDI

Late December 2019:Final I-95 southbound exit ramp opened, and four lanes of Courthouse Road opened between Austin Ridge Drive and the intersection of Ramoth Church Road and Winding Creek Road

Spring 2020: Anticipated completion of Park & Ride lots and sidewalk construction from Old Courthouse Road to Stafford County Government Center

July 31, 2020: All construction work must be complete, under contract

OUTREACH

The new Diverging Diamond Interchange opened to traffic on December 7, 2019.

PUBLIC MEETING DECEMBER 2, 2019

A Public Meeting on the Diverging Diamond Interchange Opening was held on Monday, Dec. 2, 2019 at Colonial Forge High School in Stafford County to learn more about diverging diamond interchanges and the Exit 140 project. VDOT delivered a brief presentation, and attendees watched a simulation video and participated in a walk-through DDI exhibit with signs and pavement markings similar to the Courthouse Road interchange.

• Watch the Exit 140 DDI simulation video