The Virginia state government is pushing forward a plan to convert the reversible Interstate 95 (I-95) Express Lanes, which currently change direction based on commute times, into a 24/7 two-way dedicated roadway.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) announced on the 27th that it has launched a feasibility study to expand the 45-mile stretch of express lanes running from the Springfield Interchange in Fairfax County to Spotsylvania County and convert them into a 24/7 bidirectional operational system. The study is being conducted jointly with Transurban, the private company that builds and operates the Northern Virginia toll road network.
Currently, this section operates in only one direction according to the morning and evening rush hours, which has drawn criticism for its limited ability to relieve traffic congestion in the opposite direction.
In a statement, VDOT explained, "The existing I-95 Express Lanes operate reversibly in the primary travel direction," adding, "Securing additional lanes in both directions will alleviate chronic congestion on the general-purpose lanes of I-95 in Northern Virginia and the Fredericksburg area, while providing drivers with more travel choices."
Along with the feasibility study, transportation officials plan to carry out an environmental impact assessment to evaluate the expansion's effects on nearby traffic volume, air quality, noise, surrounding properties, and natural and historical resources.
However, VDOT has not yet disclosed a completion timeline or a specific budget for the project.