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Author Topic: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond  (Read 24827 times)

cpzilliacus

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Re: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond
« Reply #25 on: July 18, 2017, 11:05:27 PM »

They are also reconfiguring the lanes on I-95 in Baltimore.

That's in Baltimore City north of the Fort McHenry Tunnel, where four lanes will be provided in both directions  (currently there are some parts that have only three lanes each way). 

This is being done in preparation for a long-term project on I-895 (Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thruway) to replace the Canton Viaduct as well as repair and rehabilitation work in the BHT tubes, which will lead to one lane being available in each direction (details in the I-895 thread here).
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Re: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond
« Reply #26 on: December 02, 2018, 09:03:55 AM »

Bumping this thread a bit to say that this entire stretch of I-95 (VA 802 to I-295) has been updated on Google Maps' Street View. You can now see all of the new APL's, lane reconfigurations and such.

Atlanta is now mentioned north of Richmond, though I wish it and I-85 was mentioned on at least one of those new APL's
https://goo.gl/maps/Da5w2G9FWQJ2
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Beltway

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Re: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond
« Reply #27 on: December 02, 2018, 09:11:25 AM »

Bumping this thread a bit to say that this entire stretch of I-95 (VA 802 to I-295) has been updated on Google Maps' Street View. You can now see all of the new APL's, lane reconfigurations and such.
Atlanta is now mentioned north of Richmond, though I wish it and I-85 was mentioned on at least one of those new APL's
https://goo.gl/maps/Da5w2G9FWQJ2

Nice reconfigurations, better rideability.  The only thing remaining is the "I-295 4 miles" sign that was at the Lewistown Road interchange I-95 southbound, it was removed in the interchange upgrade project, it was attached to the original overpass bridge.  Southbound had advance notice signs for miles 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 before I-295.  The other 4 are still there.
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Re: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond
« Reply #28 on: December 02, 2018, 01:30:45 PM »

Bumping this thread a bit to say that this entire stretch of I-95 (VA 802 to I-295) has been updated on Google Maps' Street View. You can now see all of the new APL's, lane reconfigurations and such.

Atlanta is now mentioned north of Richmond, though I wish it and I-85 was mentioned on at least one of those new APL's
https://goo.gl/maps/Da5w2G9FWQJ2

I thought that Atlanta sign was always there.
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Re: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond
« Reply #29 on: December 02, 2018, 02:14:31 PM »

If it was I never noticed it. There definitely was a Durham, NC on one of the old BGS's though.
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Re: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond
« Reply #30 on: December 02, 2018, 02:20:54 PM »

Bumping this thread a bit to say that this entire stretch of I-95 (VA 802 to I-295) has been updated on Google Maps' Street View. You can now see all of the new APL's, lane reconfigurations and such.

Atlanta is now mentioned north of Richmond, though I wish it and I-85 was mentioned on at least one of those new APL's
https://goo.gl/maps/Da5w2G9FWQJ2

I thought that Atlanta sign was always there.

The Atlanta sign is in GMSV back to at least 2007 - https://goo.gl/maps/MkPVdfcRNL72
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abefroman329

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Re: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond
« Reply #31 on: December 02, 2018, 02:42:18 PM »

Bumping this thread a bit to say that this entire stretch of I-95 (VA 802 to I-295) has been updated on Google Maps' Street View. You can now see all of the new APL's, lane reconfigurations and such.

Atlanta is now mentioned north of Richmond, though I wish it and I-85 was mentioned on at least one of those new APL's
https://goo.gl/maps/Da5w2G9FWQJ2

I thought that Atlanta sign was always there.

The Atlanta sign is in GMSV back to at least 2007 - https://goo.gl/maps/MkPVdfcRNL72
It was there when I was frequently driving between DC and points south in 2001.
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Re: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond
« Reply #32 on: December 02, 2018, 03:00:12 PM »

In the many years I've been driving that stretch I can't believe I didn't notice it (or totally forgot about it).
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abefroman329

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Re: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond
« Reply #33 on: December 02, 2018, 07:13:36 PM »

In the many years I've been driving that stretch I can't believe I didn't notice it (or totally forgot about it).
I might be thinking of the Durham/Atlanta designation at the very beginning of I-85, but that stretch looks exactly the same as it did 20 years ago.
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Re: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond
« Reply #34 on: December 04, 2018, 06:21:23 AM »

When I click your link i get a closeup of the pavement.
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Re: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond
« Reply #35 on: December 04, 2018, 04:50:30 PM »

When I click your link i get a closeup of the pavement.

It does that dumb shit sometimes when I link it using my phone
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1995hoo

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Re: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond
« Reply #36 on: December 05, 2018, 06:25:18 PM »

When I click your link i get a closeup of the pavement.

It does that dumb shit sometimes when I link it using my phone

Lately when I link stuff using my iPad, it shows the sky and you have to pan down. I guess in a sense I'm glad I'm not the only one having the problem. "Glad" isn't the right word, but you know what I mean.
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Re: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond
« Reply #37 on: June 14, 2019, 11:37:39 PM »

Bumping this because I believe another lane reconfiguration is needed in this area, this time on I-295.

During the evening rush there is congestion SB (actually heading east in this area) where I-295 receives lanes from I-95 SB. Of course this interchange was designed this way because I-295 east of I-95 was supposed to be the new routing of I-95 but it never happened. Nowadays that squeeze on 295 is creating backups all the way back to Woodman Rd and sometimes even farther.

I think a lane drop on the 95 SB to 295 SB connection, plus an additional permanent lane originating from 295 itself will fix this.
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Beltway

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Re: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond
« Reply #38 on: June 14, 2019, 11:42:57 PM »

Bumping this because I believe another lane reconfiguration is needed in this area, this time on I-295.
During the evening rush there is congestion SB (actually heading east in this area) where I-295 receives lanes from I-95 SB. Of course this interchange was designed this way because I-295 east of I-95 was supposed to be the new routing of I-95 but it never happened. Nowadays that squeeze on 295 is creating backups all the way back to Woodman Rd and sometimes even farther.
I think a lane drop on the 95 SB to 295 SB connection, plus an additional permanent lane originating from 295 itself will fix this.

Making the 5th lane on the right continuous should help this, about 1,600 feet of lane between where the lane drops and where the exit lane to US-301 begins.
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Re: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond
« Reply #39 on: June 14, 2019, 11:46:06 PM »

Bumping this because I believe another lane reconfiguration is needed in this area, this time on I-295.
During the evening rush there is congestion SB (actually heading east in this area) where I-295 receives lanes from I-95 SB. Of course this interchange was designed this way because I-295 east of I-95 was supposed to be the new routing of I-95 but it never happened. Nowadays that squeeze on 295 is creating backups all the way back to Woodman Rd and sometimes even farther.
I think a lane drop on the 95 SB to 295 SB connection, plus an additional permanent lane originating from 295 itself will fix this.

Making the 5th lane on the right continuous should help this, about 1,600 feet of lane between where the lane drops and where the exit lane to US-301 begins.

Yes, this would at least give commuting traffic more room to merge.
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Beltway

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Re: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond
« Reply #40 on: June 14, 2019, 11:56:30 PM »

Making the 5th lane on the right continuous should help this, about 1,600 feet of lane between where the lane drops and where the exit lane to US-301 begins.
Yes, this would at least give commuting traffic more room to merge.

I-295 SB (EB at this area) has 3 lanes from I-64 to before US-1 where the outer lane becomes a C-D lane, still providing 3 lanes (2 mainline and 1 C-D) in total thru the US-1 and I-95 interchange, and that C-D lane merges into the 2-lane mainline east of I-95, and I-295 has only 2 lanes until it merges with the I-95 connector.  Make I-295 SB a continuous 3 lanes.
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Re: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond
« Reply #41 on: June 15, 2019, 12:32:22 AM »

Making the 5th lane on the right continuous should help this, about 1,600 feet of lane between where the lane drops and where the exit lane to US-301 begins.
Yes, this would at least give commuting traffic more room to merge.

I-295 SB (EB at this area) has 3 lanes from I-64 to before US-1 where the outer lane becomes a C-D lane, still providing 3 lanes (2 mainline and 1 C-D) in total thru the US-1 and I-95 interchange, and that C-D lane merges into the 2-lane mainline east of I-95, and I-295 has only 2 lanes until it merges with the I-95 connector.  Make I-295 SB a continuous 3 lanes.

Hopefully something will be done about this soon.

And any option shouldn't cost a lot of money here as there is plenty of existing pavement to work with. I think this should be a relatively easy fix.
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Re: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond
« Reply #42 on: June 15, 2019, 01:36:39 AM »

While an entire widening of I-95 from Richmond to DC to 8-lanes is ultimately needed, I think a good candidate project could be to 8-lane I-95 between I-295 and VA-54 Ashland. About half of it was recently widened heading northbound apart of the 2017 project, and should be extended as a small "immediate relief" project in the next few years. Further widening north of there can come later on, though this is a segment I've seen the most problematic lately. Ditto for between Fredericksburg and Woodbridge, though that's far worse.
« Last Edit: June 15, 2019, 01:43:33 AM by sprjus4 »
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Re: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond
« Reply #43 on: June 15, 2019, 08:30:01 AM »

While an entire widening of I-95 from Richmond to DC to 8-lanes is ultimately needed, I think a good candidate project could be to 8-lane I-95 between I-295 and VA-54 Ashland. About half of it was recently widened heading northbound apart of the 2017 project, and should be extended as a small "immediate relief" project in the next few years.

Only about 1.1 mile NB was widened, although it did provide a significant operational improvement.

The recent replacement of the bridges at Lewistown Road and VA-54 also provided more space for a wider highway.  The Atlee-Elmont bridge was replaced in the 2005 interchange upgrade project, also with longer clearances.

Based on the higher traffic volumes between I-295 and VA-54 than north of there, I would agree with prioritizing widening of that segment.  There were planning studies about 10 years ago and one of the alternatives proposed was for 10 lanes on a 2-3-3-2 dual-divided cross section, in addition to an 8-lane alternative.
 
« Last Edit: June 15, 2019, 08:34:29 AM by Beltway »
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Re: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond
« Reply #44 on: June 15, 2019, 01:13:12 PM »

While an entire widening of I-95 from Richmond to DC to 8-lanes is ultimately needed, I think a good candidate project could be to 8-lane I-95 between I-295 and VA-54 Ashland.

Definitely agree, although I don't remember seeing a formal smart scale funding request regarding such a project. If thats the case I find that somewhat surprising especially considering how consistently congested that section of I-95 is. In fact, the Richmond transportation agency even said that I-95 was a bigger priority than widening the I-64 gap (at least back in 2016). I know an I-95 project to add auxiliarily lanes between VA-288 and VA-10 got funded, but I would have suspected that wouldn't of been the only needed project. While the 2017 lane configuration project was nice, its only a band-aid to a larger problem that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later. Maybe the new annual funding for I-95 can help.

https://www.dailypress.com/news/traffic/dp-nws-64-widening-to-richmond-update-20161104-story.html
Quote
his year, the Richmond agency submitted a project that would widen the interstate another five miles, from there to Exit 211, said Chuck Gates, RRTPO spokesman. That project, which New Kent County asked the Richmond agency to submit, would take the 29-mile gap down to 24 miles.

The Richmond agency submitted the I-64 widening project as its last priority of out six for funding, Gates said. That's because its data shows that relieving congestion on I-95 is more of a priority for the Richmond area than I-64.

Smart Scale will not be offered next cycle; in 2020, the Richmond group will consider submitting an application to continue widening I-64 for three more miles, to Exit 214, Gates said.
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sprjus4

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Re: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond
« Reply #45 on: June 15, 2019, 03:00:44 PM »

Maybe the new annual funding for I-95 can help.
Definitely agree. A special bond could also be used to accelerate the project, with that annual funding being used to repay it, in lieu of toll revenue. State and federal funding could also be added to the mix to speed things up even faster.

Using a rough $50 million per mile figure, that adds up to about $2 billion being needed to widen 40 miles of I-95 to 8-lanes between Fredericksburg and DC, and for up to 10-lanes between Fredericksburg and DC, using $65 million per mile, or $2.3 billion for 35 miles. You could also throw in another $500 million - $1 billion for other operational improvements such as interchange reconfigurations, etc. so I'd roughly estimate about $5.3 billion total being needed. With I-81 now fully funded, this could certainly should happen IMO.

The recent replacement of the bridges at Lewistown Road and VA-54 also provided more space for a wider highway.  The Atlee-Elmont bridge was replaced in the 2005 interchange upgrade project, also with longer clearances.
VA-54 is questionable - to fit an 8-lane through there, you'd have to have only a 4 foot left shoulder that would touch the bridge support because of the tight fit. Then again, the 1.1 mile widening apart of the 2017 project that added a 4th lane only provided a 4 foot left shoulder, not 10 or 12 foot. But operationally, it would work. I don't care if it's a 4 foot shoulder or 12 foot, as long as there's a 12 foot additional travel lane, it works.

Based on the higher traffic volumes between I-295 and VA-54 than north of there, I would agree with prioritizing widening of that segment.  There were planning studies about 10 years ago and one of the alternatives proposed was for 10 lanes on a 2-3-3-2 dual-divided cross section, in addition to an 8-lane alternative.
A 2-3-3-2 option is a nice concept, though considering VDOT hasn't launched any studies to actually widen I-95 to anything more than 6 lanes, I think 2-3-3-2 is pushing it. Also, none of the bridge lengths support it. You'd have to replace every overpass, not to mention it would cost significantly more. For the entire I-95 corridor, I'd support 8-lanes between I-295 and Fredericksburg, up to 10 GP lanes (5 in each direction) between Fredericksburg and Woodbridge, and in sections where interchanges are close and a lot of local travel exists, a 2-4-4-2.

While 10 lanes north of Fredericksburg may seem a bit excessive, it's important to note upwards of 130,000 AADT use that stretch daily, and HO/T lanes already exist for the corridor and there's still massive congestion issues. Adding 2 lanes in each direction would likely relieve this significantly, and is worth the investment IMO.
« Last Edit: June 15, 2019, 03:02:55 PM by sprjus4 »
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Re: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond
« Reply #46 on: June 15, 2019, 06:46:35 PM »

The recent replacement of the bridges at Lewistown Road and VA-54 also provided more space for a wider highway.  The Atlee-Elmont bridge was replaced in the 2005 interchange upgrade project, also with longer clearances.
VA-54 is questionable - to fit an 8-lane through there, you'd have to have only a 4 foot left shoulder that would touch the bridge support because of the tight fit.

Google aerial still has the old bridges, so I can't measure it there.  But based on seeing it on site there should be space for full right and left shoulders and the NB deceleration lane.

Then again, the 1.1 mile widening apart of the 2017 project that added a 4th lane only provided a 4 foot left shoulder, not 10 or 12 foot. But operationally, it would work. I don't care if it's a 4 foot shoulder or 12 foot, as long as there's a 12 foot additional travel lane, it works.

They had plenty of space for a 12-foot left shoulder, but for some reason it is only 4 feet.
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Re: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond
« Reply #47 on: June 15, 2019, 07:52:56 PM »

Google aerial still has the old bridges, so I can't measure it there.  But based on seeing it on site there should be space for full right and left shoulders and the NB deceleration lane.
The new bridge is the one that is showing on Google Maps. The old bridge was actually two separate 2-lane bridges while the new one is one 5-lane bridge.



It's roughly 16 feet available. Because of the median is only 40 feet through there, they should've left additional room to the outside, but did not choose to which limits the room. Other bridge replacements or new bridges added on other sections of I-95 left outside room for future expansion, though on this particular one they chose not to.  It is possible to fit a 4th lane in, but you would have to shrink the left shoulder from 12 feet to 4 feet.

It's similar to the I-64 Phase #3 widening between either end of VA-199. The typical section calls for three 12 foot lanes and 12 foot outside and inside shoulders, however under the overpasses, the design plans show the shoulder shrinking to 4 feet under the bridge, then widening back out. It's certainly a lot cheaper to do that then to replace the entire bridge just to accommodate a 12 foot shoulder. Similar to how on older interstate highways the shoulder shrinks to travel over a narrow bridge.

They had plenty of space for a 12-foot left shoulder, but for some reason it is only 4 feet.
Probably to reduce costs and to just get it done. Also, the typical section of I-95 around that area only has 4 foot shoulders, so they probably determined it was not neccasary to add one. I'd like to see them eventually pave a left shoulder, especially once southbound gets widened to 4-lanes. For some areas with smaller medians, that'll require a full jersey barrier if it's too narrow.

One stretch of I-95 around Lumberton, NC had 4-lanes (2 each way) and a 30 foot grassy median. That 30 foot median was recently replaced with 12 foot paved shoulders on each side and jersey barrier with lighting in the median. Something similar could work here. Along with a repaving of that stretch of I-95, it's made it look a lot nicer through that area.
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Re: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond
« Reply #48 on: June 15, 2019, 08:29:37 PM »

Google aerial still has the old bridges, so I can't measure it there.  But based on seeing it on site there should be space for full right and left shoulders and the NB deceleration lane.
The new bridge is the one that is showing on Google Maps. The old bridge was actually two separate 2-lane bridges while the new one is one 5-lane bridge.

That is weird because I used Google Maps on both Chrome and MS Edge and it only shows the original bridges.

It's roughly 16 feet available. Because of the median is only 40 feet through there, they should've left additional room to the outside, but did not choose to which limits the room. Other bridge replacements or new bridges added on other sections of I-95 left outside room for future expansion, though on this particular one they chose not to.  It is possible to fit a 4th lane in, but you would have to shrink the left shoulder from 12 feet to 4 feet.

Outside widening.  Those bridge aprons visible on the ground photo are basically cosmetic.  The abutments are at the top of the slope and their footers rest on steel piles driven vertically into the earth.  They can remove those slopes and built a vertical retaining wall right in front of the footer and based on what I see there gain about 16 to 18 feet of space for outside widening.  (I'll grant that is not enough for 2-3-3-2).
 
« Last Edit: June 15, 2019, 08:33:55 PM by Beltway »
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Re: I-95 Lane Reconfiguration North of I-295 North of Richmond
« Reply #49 on: June 15, 2019, 08:35:50 PM »

That is weird because I used Google Maps on both Chrome and MS Edge and it only shows the original bridges.
Could you take a screenshot of it? That's really strange.

Outside widening.  Those bridge aprons visible on the ground photo are basically cosmetic.  The abutments are at the top of the slope and their footers rest on steel piles driven vertically into the earth.  They can remove those slopes and built a vertical retaining wall right in front of the footer and based on what I see there gain about 16 to 18 feet of space for outside widening.  (I'll grant that is not enough for 2-3-3-2).
I suppose they could do something like this - https://www.google.com/maps/@36.1227663,-79.9586045,3a,75y,305.54h,83.3t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFxbyail3XBHqu1SzDwJNDQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

That would work, but you'd have to provide another method of retaining the structure, like you mentiond and pictured above.
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