Southpoint Parkway Safety Improvements To Begin On Monday: VDOT

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — A road project coming to the Fredericksburg area aims to reduce the risk of crashes on Southpoint Parkway between Route 1 and Pacific Drive in Spotsylvania County.

Starting Monday, Virginia Department of Transportation crews will begin pouring concrete to create median islands on Southpoint Parkway near the Route 1 intersection.

During this work, access to the median lanes and left-turn lane on Southpoint Parkway will be closed, according to VDOT. A message board will be positioned near the affected intersections to direct drivers while the closures are in effect.

“Concrete medians will be installed between Route 1 and Pacific Drive to prohibit left turns out from commercial entrances in this area,” according to VDOT. "Through movements, where drivers travel straight across the intersection, will also be prohibited. Motorists on Southpoint Parkway can continue to turn left into the commercial entrances."

The safety improvements on Southpoint Parkway are part of a $16.6 million construction project that started in March 2023 and is scheduled to be completed in August.

“Virginia's SMART SCALE program is funding improvements to widen the Interstate 95 southbound off-ramp at exit 126, and is expanding capacity near the Route 1 and Southpoint Parkway intersection,” according to VDOT. “As part of this construction contract, federal safety funds are modifying the traffic pattern at commercial entrances between Route 1 and Pacific Drive to reduce places where vehicle paths can overlap and result in a collision.”

The project will make these improvements:

• Adding a second right-turn lane to the I-95 southbound off-ramp
• Route 1 southbound widened from the off-ramp to Southpoint Parkway with an additional travel lane
• Second right-turn lane added from Route 1 southbound to Southpoint Parkway
• Medians on Southpoint Parkway will allow left turns into several commercial entrances, but restricts through and left-turning traffic out from side streets
• Additional right-turn lane added to Southpoint Parkway approaching Route 1 southbound