Southbound Lanes Of Route 1 Shift As Part of Widening Project

WOODBRIDGE, VA — Starting Dec. 19, the two through lanes of southbound Route 1 between the Occoquan River bridge and the Marumsco Creek bridge will shift onto new pavement as part of the Route 1 widening project in the area, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. The project, when completed in fall 2020, is expected to spur major redevelopment in the northern section of Woodbridge, near a Virginia Railway Express station and the Occoquan River.

The $165 million project will expand Route 1, a heavily-used commuter thoroughfare that runs parallel to Interstate 95, from four to six lanes along a one-mile stretch of the highway between Mary's Way and Annapolis Way. Route 1 averages about 38,000 vehicles a day in this area.

The project also includes a new Route 1 bridge at Marumsco Creek, improvements to Occoquan Road and construction of a shared-use path and sidewalk. The project is being funded with federal, state and county dollars.

In August, the Virginia DOT said the completion date for the project had been delayed until fall 2020. The project was originally slated for a fall 2019 completion. Virginia DOT officials said the delay was due to challenges relocating underground utilities. Crews also ran into heavy rocks while relocating drainage crossings and a water main.

Construction on the project, which also includes demolition of several vacant buildings along the Route 1 corridor, began in 2016.