VDOT News - Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The public is invited to learn more about a project to modify the intersection of Route 3 and Orange Plank Road in Spotsylvania County to enhance safety, and to provide comment on the proposed design.

An in-person design public hearing will be held:

Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022*

5 – 7 p.m.

Chancellor Elementary School

5995 Plank Road

Fredericksburg, VA 22407

*Inclement weather date: Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2022

Stop by the public hearing anytime between 5 – 7 p.m. to review displays and proposed design plans, and discuss questions with Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) staff.

The meeting will be an open house format with a brief presentation at 5:15 p.m.

The public can view project materials and submit comments using an online form at https://publicinput.com/Route3andOrangePlankRoad. Questions during the design public hearing comment opportunity are identical to questions asked during the July 28 – Aug.12, 2022 comment opportunity.

Written and oral comments on the project will be accepted at the public meeting, and afterward through Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022.

Comments may also be submitted by mailing them to Ms. Jessica Graves, VDOT Project Manager, 87 Deacon Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22405.

Comments may be emailed to fred.comments@vdot.virginia.gov. Please reference "Route 3 and Orange Plank Road Public Comment" in the email subject line.

Project Background

The project seeks to improve guidance for motorists turning left from Route 3 westbound, and to increase motorist sight distance. The project is estimated to cost around $228,000, and would be funded through the federal High Risk Rural Roads program.

With this proposed design, the existing traffic signal at the intersection would be modified.
Left turns from Route 3 westbound onto Orange Plank Road would be controlled by a green arrow, and then a flashing red arrow to provide a stop control.

Orange Plank Road traffic would be prohibited from turning left onto Route 3 westbound at the intersection. Instead, motorists would turn right onto Route 3 eastbound to make a U-turn at the next crossover and then proceed west. By eliminating left turns from Orange Plank Road, this provides additional time for Route 3 westbound through traffic to proceed straight through the intersection on a green signal.

U-turns would continue to be prohibited at the intersection for Route 3 westbound traffic seeking to travel eastbound.
New signs, traffic signal equipment, and pavement markings would be installed to align with the new traffic pattern.

This proposed intersection design is known as a Restricted Crossing U-Turn, or RCUT. Watch a video on RCUTs and visit VDOT’s Innovative Intersections page to learn more about this design, which is intended to reduce driver wait times, improve traffic flow and reduce conflict points that contribute to crashes.

The project would be advertised to potential bidders for construction in January 2023.
Please visit the project page online at www.VirginiaDOT.org to view meeting materials. All materials will be posted online by Tuesday, Sept. 27.

511Virginia
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Download the free mobile 511Virginia app for Apple and Android devices to stay connected, or visit http://www.511Virginia.org. Motorists also can reach 511Virginia by calling 511 when they are not operating a motor vehicle or while using a hands-free device.

Do not use a handheld cell phone or mobile device while driving (it’s the law).

Follow VDOT Fredericksburg District on Twitter @VaDOTFRED.
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VDOT’s 14-county Fredericksburg District includes the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford in the Fredericksburg area; Northumberland, Richmond, Lancaster and Westmoreland counties in the Northern Neck; Essex, Gloucester, King & Queen, King William, Mathews and Middlesex counties in the Middle Peninsula.

Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.