Interstate 95 in Virginia

Interstate 95 (I-95) runs 179 miles (288 km) within the Commonwealth of Virginia between its borders with Maryland and North Carolina. I-95 is concurrent with I-64 for 3 miles (4.8 km) in Richmond, and meets the northern terminus of I-85 in Petersburg. Although I-95 was originally planned as a highway through Washington, D.C. (following the route of what is now I-395), it was rerouted along the eastern portion of the Capital Beltway. From Petersburg to Richmond, I-95 was most of the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike (the south end of the toll road was on I-85.)

Interstate 95
I-95 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by VDOT
Length178.73 mi[1] (287.64 km)
Existed1957–present
Major junctions
South end I-95 at North Carolina border near Skippers
 
North end I-95 / I-495 at District of Columbia border in Alexandria
Location
CountiesGreensville, City of Emporia, Sussex, Prince George, City of Petersburg, City of Colonial Heights, Chesterfield, City of Richmond, Henrico, Hanover, Caroline, Spotsylania, City of Fredericksburg, Stafford, Prince William, Fairfax, City of Alexandria
Highway system
SR 94 SR 96

It enters the Capital Beltway at the Springfield Interchange, also known as the Mixing Bowl. I-95 continues over the Woodrow Wilson Bridge into Washington, D.C. (for 0.11 miles on the bridge), and then into Maryland on the Beltway.

The route between Fredericksburg and Springfield is consistently one of the most congested routes of highway in the United States, particularly during holidays and rush hours. The causes for this congestion are lack of alternative routes, fewer lanes than needed, and the spread-out suburbs of the Washington D.C. area.[2]

Route description

I-95 entering Virginia from North Carolina in 2007

North Carolina to Petersburg

Interstate 95 continues the pattern of being a four-lane highway from North Carolina. The welcome center forbids trucks, but truck stops at the first two interchanges provides a substitute place for truckers to stay before reaching Emporia.[3][4] North of here, I-95 and US 301 are often intertwined with each other as they encounter interchanges with Virginia Secondary State Routes. In the Owens-Stony Creek area in Sussex County, the road not only runs parallel to US 301 but shares bridges with I-95, many of which have access to Route 301 from connecting roads. This pattern ends at Exit 33 at the corner of a fairly popular truck stop and travel center. Crossing the Sussex-Prince George County Line, the first site along I-95 is another rest area that also serves as the Petersburg Area Tourist Information Center. The road makes a slight northeast turn between Carson and Templeton, then turns straight north again before approaching the south end of Interstate 295 just before crossing the southern border of the City of Petersburg at Exit 47. A series of frontage roads connect the interchanges with US 460, US 301 and the northern terminus of Interstate 85. Immediately after the interchange with Interstate 85, remnants of the former toll booths for the Richmond–Petersburg Turnpike can be found.[5] Also, the I-95/I-85 interchange is marked with signs directing southbound travelers to the long-distance cities of Miami, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia, respectively.

Petersburg to Richmond

View of I-95 southbound past SR 144 in Colonial Heights between Richmond and Petersburg

North of Petersburg, I-95 crosses the Appomattox River and enters the City of Colonial Heights and then Chesterfield County. Pocahontas Parkway and an extraordinarily high Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge over I-95 and the James River just south of the Richmond City Limits. A CSX railroad line runs parallel to the northbound lane in the vicinity of the Port of Richmond, and the Commerce Road Industrial Area, a region that includes a Philip Morris office and an old bridge manufacturing plant.[6] As I-95 itself crosses the James River, Main Street Station can be seen on the north bank, and the road winds around the station itself.[7] The first interchange after it crosses the James River is the tolled State Route 195 and from there the road winds towards the multiplex with Interstate 64. I-64/95 curves to the northwest to cross under US 1/301, only to turn back north briefly, and curve northwest again, as it approaches VA 161. This pattern ends when I-64 turns west at the same interchange as the northern terminus of I-195. From here I-95 curves back to the northeast and has two interchanges with US 1, and later US 301 separately, the latter of which has separate carriageways on both side of I-95. Another interchange with Interstate 295 exists in Glen Allen. However, I-295 does not terminate there, and the south-to-eastbound and west-to-northbound off-ramps between the two can be accessed in the medians of both roads.

Central Virginia to Washington, D.C.

View north along I-95 north of US 17 in Stafford County

Throughout much of central Virginia, I-95 climbs a series of hills, and contains wide tree-lined medians. Near mile marker 100 in Doswell, signs for the Kings Dominion amusement park are blended in with standard destination signs. US 17 overlaps I-95 from Massaponax at exit 126 to Falmouth at exit 133 as the highway passes west of Fredericksburg. The wide tree-line divider resumes north of here. At Exit 143 in Aquia, the northbound off and on ramps connect directly to US 1, even though the interchange is specifically for SR 610.[8][9] Crossing over the Chopawamsic Creek takes I-95 through the Quantico Marine Base, which includes restrictive interchanges.[10] Northbound, the bi-directional HOT lane begins in Stafford, and runs through the center of I-95 through most of the rest of its journey toward D.C.

I-95 northbound at the SR 294 exit near Woodbridge

Further north in Prince William County, there are four rest areas; two for trucks in Dumfries, and two for cars in Dale City. The truck rest areas, with weigh stations, are near exit 152. The car rest areas have uniquely positioned entrance and exit ramps. The southbound car rest area, near exit 156, is accessible only from the southbound collective-distributor road. In Lorton, a scissor interchange exists with US 1, and shortly after this Lorton Auto Train Station is located near exit 163. Due to public opposition of efforts to build I-95 through Washington D.C. and College Park, Maryland, I-95 is diverted onto a multiplex with Interstate 495 at the Springfield Interchange, with the former alignment north of here becoming Interstate 395. I-95/495 continue east through Franconia, over the WMATA Blue Line and Rose Hill. At Huntington, I-95/495 run under the WMATA Yellow Line, and through Alexandria before crossing the Woodrow Wilson Bridge briefly into D.C., and then into Maryland.

Auxiliary routes

Current

Woodrow Wilson Bridge carrying Interstate 95/495 over the Potomac River between Alexandria, Virginia and Oxon Hill, Maryland, U.S.A. (2007)
I-95/I-495 south coming off the Woodrow Wilson Bridge from Maryland

Former

  • Business Loop 95 was a former business loop of Interstate 95 in and out of Emporia, Virginia between Exits 8 and 12, running mostly along US 301.
  • Interstate 595 was a planned branch from I-395 south to Washington National Airport along U.S. Route 1.
  • Interstate 795 was a planned number for present I-95 from I-295 south of Petersburg to Interstate 85 in downtown Petersburg; I-95 would have bypassed Petersburg and Richmond to the east on I-295. The renumbering was never done because tolls were removed from the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike section of I-95.[11]
  • State Route 895 is the Pocahontas Parkway, a connection from I-95 south of Richmond east to I-295. It was not numbered as an Interstate because the project opened as a toll road using federal funds, thus disqualifying it from Interstate status.

HOV facilities

I-95 with reversible HOT lanes in northern Virginia

Interstate 95 extends the twin-lane barrier-separated HOV lanes that begin on I-395 at the 14th Street Bridge in Washington. These lanes have been extended south several times, most recently to just north of Stafford right before the Garrisonville Road exit.

As part of the Quantico Creek bridge rebuilding project, a three-lane, 300-foot-long (91 m) bridge was constructed in the median just south of the old southern HOV terminus for use when the HOV facilities were extended. It was previously used as a detour bridge and retained its lane striping from such use.

In December 2014, this bridge became part of the Southern HOV/HOT lane extension project that now runs to just north of Garrisonville Rd. (exit 143) in Stafford.[12][13]

The new I-95 HOV/HOT lanes project created approximately 29 miles (47 km) of HOV/HOT lanes on I-95 from Garrisonville Rd. in Stafford County to the vicinity of Edsall Road on I-395 in Fairfax County.[14]

In July 2016, VDOT began construction of an additional one-mile (1.6 km) extension of the HOV/HOT lanes on I-95 south of Garrisonville Rd. in Stafford County. This addition opened in November 2017.[15]

Welcome centers, rest areas and weigh stations

  • Northbound Virginia Welcome Center: Milepost 1, north of VA State Line
  • Northbound Petersburg Welcome Center: Milepost 35 between Exits 33 and 37
  • Carson Weigh Stations: Milepost 40 between Exits 37 and 41
  • Ladysmith Rest Areas: Milepost 108 between Exits 104 and 110
  • Southbound Fredericksburg Rest Area: Milepost 132 between Exits 130 and 133
  • Dumfries Rest Area and Weigh Stations: Milepost 153 between Exits 152 and 156
  • Dale City Rest Areas: Milepost 155 between Exits 152 and 156

Exit list

CountyLocationmi[1]kmExitDestinationsNotes
Greensville0.000.00 I-95 south Rocky MountContinuation into North Carolina
Skippers4.136.654 SR 629 Skippers
8.2513.288 US 301 Emporia
City of Emporia11.0017.7011 US 58 South Hill, Emporia, NorfolkSigned as exits 11A (east) and 11B (west)
Greensville12.9920.9112 US 301 northNorthbound exit only
13.5121.7413 SR 614 Emporia
Sussex17.3027.8417 US 301
20.2532.5920 SR 631 JarrattFormer SR 137; to SR 139
Owens24.2939.0924 SR 645
Stony Creek30.9249.7631 SR 40 Stony Creek, Waverly
33.3753.7033 SR 602
Prince GeorgeCarson37.1559.7937 SR 623 CarsonFormer SR 141 west
Templeton40.8865.7941 US 301 / SR 35 / SR 156 Courtland
Kingwood45.4273.1045 US 301
46.5374.8846 I-295 north to I-64 Washington, Richmond International AirportI-295 to 95 north exit 1
City of Petersburg47.7476.8347 SR 629 (Rives Road)
48.8978.6848 Wagner Road (US 460 east)Signed as exits 48A (east) and 48B (west); south end of US 460 overlap; serves Southside Regional Medical Center
50.61–
51.06
81.45–
82.17
50
US 460 Bus. east (County Drive) to SR 109 / US 301 (Crater Road) / Wythe Street / Washington Street Fort Lee
Northbound signed as "US 460 east to SR 109/US 301/Wythe St./Washington St."; southbound signed as "US 301/US 460 Bus." only; signed as exits 50A (US 460), 50B-C (US 301), and 50D (Wythe St./Washington St.) northbound
51.7183.2251 I-85 south / US 460 west Durham, Atlanta, Blackstone, South HillNorthern end of US 460 concurrency; Northern terminus of I-85; northbound signed as "Blackstone/South Hill"; southbound signed as "Durham/Atlanta"
52.1483.9152Bank StreetNorthbound exit only
52.1583.93
US 460 Bus. west / Washington Street / Wythe Street Petersburg National Battlefield, Historic Old Towne Petersburg
Appomattox River52.7984.96Appomattox River Bridge
City of Colonial Heights53.0085.3053Southpark Boulevard
53.9886.8754 SR 144 (Temple Avenue) to SR 36
Chesterfield57.9193.2058 SR 620 (Woods Edge Road) / SR 746 (Ruffin Mill Road)Signed as exits 58A (east) and 58B (west) southbound
Chester60.8197.8661 SR 10 to I-295 Chester, HopewellSigned as exits 61A (east) and 61B (west)
62.62100.7862 SR 288 north to I-64 / SR 76 / to Powhite Parkway (SR 76) Chesterfield
64.66104.0664 SR 613 (Willis Road)
Bensley67.43108.5267 SR 150 north (Chippenham Parkway) to SR 895 east to US 60 west / US 360 west / I-295 Richmond International AirportSigned as exits 67A (east) and 67B (north) northbound; no access from I-95 south to SR 895 east
City of Richmond69.35111.6169 SR 161 (Bells Road)
73.16117.7473Maury Street / Commerce Road
73.61118.46James River Bridge
74.01119.1174A
SR 195 Toll (Downtown Expressway) to I-195 north / Powhite Parkway (SR 76 south)
74.30119.5774BFranklin StreetSouthbound exit only
74.63120.1174C US 250 (Broad Street) to US 33No access from I-95 south to US 250 east
75.55121.5975 I-64 east / 7th Street Williamsburg, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Richmond International AirportSouthern end of I-64 concurrency; I-64 exit 190
75.85122.0776AChamberlayne Avenue (US 1 / US 301 north)Northbound exit and southbound entrance
76.09122.4576B US 1 / US 301 south (Belvidere Street)No northbound exit
78.06125.6378Boulevard (SR 161)
78.84126.8879 I-64 west / I-195 south / to Powhite Parkway (SR 76 south) CharlottesvilleNorthern end of I-64 concurrency; I-64 exit 187
79.91128.6080 SR 161 (Hermitage Road / Lakeside Avenue)Northbound exit and southbound entrance
HenricoBrook Hill80.82130.0781 US 1 (Brook Road)Northbound exit and southbound entrance
81.12130.5582 US 301 / SR 2 (Chamberlayne Avenue)Former northern terminus of Richmond–Petersburg Turnpike
Yellow Tavern82.94133.4883 SR 73 west (Parham Road)Signed as exits 83A (east) and 83B (west)
84.41135.8484 I-295 to I-64 Charlottesville, Williamsburg, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Rocky Mount, NC, Richmond International AirportSigned as exits 84A (south) and 84B (north); I-295 exit 43; Rocky Mount, NC signed northbound; Williamsburg and Virginia Beach signed southbound
HanoverAshland87.30140.5086 SR 656 Atlee, ElmontSigned as exits 86A (east) and 86B (west)
Lewistown89.09143.3889 SR 802 (Lewistown Road)
Ashland91.74147.6492 SR 54 Ashland, HanoverSigned as exits 92A (east) and 92B (west) northbound
97.75157.3198 SR 30 Doswell, West Point, Kings DominionSouthbound Exit 98 splits to separate ramp to Kings Dominion
CarolineCarmel Church104.18167.66104 SR 207 to US 301 Carmel Church, Bowling Green
Ladysmith110.30177.51110 SR 639 LadysmithTo former SR 229 west
SpotsylvaniaThornburg118.26190.32118 SR 606 Thornburg
125.84202.52126 US 1 / US 17 south Spotsylvania, FredericksburgSouthern end of US 17 concurrency; signed as exits 126A (north) and 126B (south) northbound
City of Fredericksburg129.54208.47130 SR 3 Culpeper, FredericksburgSigned as exits 130A (east) and 130B (west)
Rappahannock River131.83212.16Rappahannock Falls Bridge
Stafford133.08214.17133
US 17 north / US 17 Bus. south Warrenton, Falmouth, Fredericksburg
Northern end of US 17 concurrency; signed as exits 133A (south) and 133B (north) southbound
I-95 Express northSouth end of proposed I-95 Express lanes extension for construction to start in 2019
135.61218.24136 SR 8900 (Centreport Parkway) to US 1 Stafford AirportExit opened December 22, 2005
139.83225.03140 SR 630 StaffordTo former SR 212 east
141.00226.92 I-95 Express northCurrent south end of I-95 Express lanes
Aquia142.73229.70143A SR 610 east / US 1 AquiaSigned as US 1 northbound and SR 610 southbound; former SR 213
143B SR 610 west GarrisonvilleFormer SR 213
145.30233.84 I-95 Express northNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
Prince William147.65237.62148Marine Corps Base Quantico
Triangle149.97241.35150 SR 619 Triangle, Quantico, Prince William Forest ParkSigned as exits 150A (east) and 150B (west) southbound; commercial vehicles to Marine Corps Base Quantico must use exit 148
151.00243.01 I-95 Express northNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
Dumfries152.36245.20152 SR 234 to I-66 west Manassas, DumfriesSigned as exits 152A (south) and 152B (north)
Dale City155.91250.91156 SR 784 Dale City, Rippon LandingSince 2012, signed as exits 156A (east) and 156B (west); northbound entrance includes direct entrance ramp from Opitz Boulevard, and direct exit ramp to I-95 Express lanes
157.00252.67 I-95 ExpressNo direct northbound exit
158.13254.49158 SR 294 (Prince William Parkway) Woodbridge, ManassasSigned as exits 158A (east) and 158B (west)
158.13254.49 SR 294 (Prince William Parkway) Manassas, WoodbridgeSouthbound exit and northbound entrance for I-95 Express lanes; exit includes direct exit ramp to Horner Road Commuter Parking Lot
Woodbridge160.05257.58160 SR 123 Occoquan, Lake Ridge, WoodbridgeSigned as exits 160A (south) and 160B (north) northbound; no access from I-95 south to SR 123 south
160.05257.58 SR 123 Occoquan, Lake RidgeSouthbound exit and northbound entrance for I-95 Express lanes
FairfaxLorton161.17259.38161 US 1 north Fort Belvoir, Mount VernonNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
US 1 south WoodbridgeSouthbound exit and northbound entrance for I-95 Express lanes
US 1 south WoodbridgeSouthbound left exit and northbound entrance
163.66263.39163 SR 642 Lorton
Newington165.56266.44 I-95 Express northNorthbound exit only
166.00267.15Alban Road / Boudinot DriveSouthbound entrance only for I-95 Express lanes
166.80268.44166 SR 286 (Fairfax County Parkway) / Backlick Road (SR 617) / Fullerton Road / Heller Road Newington, Fort BelvoirSigned as exits 166A (south) and 166B (north); Heller Rd. not signed northbound; Backlick Rd./Fullerton Rd. not signed southbound
167.00268.76 I-95 Express southSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
167.81270.06167 SR 617 south (Backlick Road) / Fullerton RoadSouthbound exit only
Springfield169.05272.06169A-B SR 644 Franconia, SpringfieldNo southbound exit; signed as exits 169A (east) and 169B (west)
SR 289 (Franconia-Springfield Parkway)I-95 Express lane interchange
I-95 Express northNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
SR 644 west SpringfieldSouthbound exit and northbound entrance for I-95 Express lanes
169.05–
171.01
272.06–
275.21
170A-B I-395 north (Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway) / I-495 north (Capital Beltway) Washington, Tysons CornerPart of Springfield Interchange; northbound exit and southbound entrance; signed as exits 170A (I-395) and 170B (I-495); I-395 exits 1A-B
I-395 Express northI-95 Express lane interchange; part of Springfield Interchange
I-495 north Tysons CornerI-95 Express lane interchange; part of Springfield Interchange
I-95 Express southPart of Springfield Interchange; north end of I-95 Express lanes
170A I-495 north (Capital Beltway) Tysons CornerSouthern end of I-495 concurrency; part of Springfield Interchange; southbound exit and northbound entrance
Franconia171.97276.76173 SR 613 (Van Dorn Street) FranconiaFormerly signed as exit 3 (following old Capital Beltway numbering)
173.51279.24174Eisenhower Avenue Connector Alexandria
174.31280.52 I-95 north / I-495 east BaltimoreSouth end of Thru Lanes
Huntington175.06281.73176A-B SR 241 / SR 611 south (Telegraph Road / North Kings Highway) / to Eisenhower Avenue AlexandriaSigned as exits 176A (south) and 176B (north); formerly signed as exit 2 (following old Capital Beltway numbering)
176.27283.68Eisenhower AvenueSouthbound exit and northbound entrance for Thru Lanes only
City of Alexandria176.57284.16177A-B US 1 Alexandria, Fort BelvoirSigned as exits 177A (south) and 177B (north); formerly signed as exit 1 (following old Capital Beltway numbering); entrances include direct entrance ramps onto Thru Lanes; no access to northbound Thru Lanes from US 1 north
177CMount VernonSouthbound exit only
Potomac River177.64285.88Woodrow Wilson Bridge
VADC and DC–MD lines
I-95 north / I-495 east (Capital Beltway) BaltimoreContinuation beyond Virginia
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Usage

In 2010, volume at Newington, northbound, from 6-9 am, is about 8,800 vehicles in the two HOV lanes, and 18,300 vehicles in the three lanes with no restriction.[16]

References

  1. Staff (2014). "2014 Traffic Data". Virginia Department of Transportation. Retrieved 2015-08-31.
  2. Thomson, Robert (May 8, 2012). "Southbound I-95: Drivers warn of heavy traffic, offer tips to avoid the worst of it". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved January 8, 2018.
  3. "#317 Skippers, VA". myloves317.com.
  4. Services, Environmental Management. "Simmons Travel Centers Offer Food, Lounges, CAT Scales". www.parkeroilcompany.com.
  5. "NETRonline: Historic Aerials - Viewer". historicaerials.com.
  6. "Creative Visual Design – Aerial Photography & Videography based in Richmond, VA with Keywords: landmarks".
  7. DanTD (June 8, 2010). Richmond Main Street Station from I-95 in Virginia (photograph). Retrieved November 1, 2017.
  8. Northbound I-95 image at Exits 143 A-B (AARoads.com)
  9. Aerial view of Exit 143 interchange on Interstate 95 (Google Maps)
  10. Sign requiring commercial vehicles to Quantico Marine Base to use Exit 148 (AARoads.com)
  11. "Interstate 95 (AARoads.com; Interstate Guide)". Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  12. The orphaned bridge over Quantico Creek is located at 38.568175°N 77.335274°W / 38.568175; -77.335274
  13. "I-95 Quantico Creek bridge reconstruction project from VDOT". Archived from the original on 2007-09-26. Retrieved 2007-09-02.
  14. "VIRGINIA ADVANCES NEW I-95 HOV/HOT LANES PROJECT AND NEW RAMP TO SEMINARY ROAD AT MARK CENTER". Virginiadot.org. Retrieved 2011-09-19.
  15. "I-95 Express Lanes Southern Extension". www.virginiadot.org.
  16. Thomson, Robert (18 April 2010). "Dr. Gridlock column:Opening HOV lanes to all after crash not a quick and easy job". Washington Post. Washington, DC. pp. C2.

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Interstate 95
Previous state:
North Carolina
Virginia Next state:
District of Columbia
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