I-95/I-64/I-195 interchange; lane drop on I-95 North

[Strider]

Hello,

When I drove on I-95 on way to New York for the weekend, I drove through Richmond and there was something that really bothered me. At the I-95/I-64/I-195 interchange where I-64 splits from I-95, the through route says 3 lanes to continue on I-95 north to Washington, but right before the ramp merge from I-64 East/I-195 North, the through lanes are reduced to 2 LANES??? The ramp that merged forms the third lane though, but in the past...there wasn't a lane drop in that area.

Is there any reason why it was reconfigured? I asked because it caused some backups on I-95 North in that area last Friday.

[Beltway]

Hello,
When I drove on I-95 on way to New York for the weekend, I drove through Richmond and there was something that really bothered me. At the I-95/I-64/I-195 interchange where I-64 splits from I-95, the through route says 3 lanes to continue on I-95 north to Washington, but right before the ramp merge from I-64 East/I-195 North, the through lanes are reduced to 2 LANES??? The ramp that merged forms the third lane though, but in the past...there wasn't a lane drop in that area.
Is there any reason why it was reconfigured? I asked because it caused some backups on I-95 North in that area last Friday.

There is a large reduction in traffic on NB I-95 between the WB I-64 offramp and the EB I-64 onramp.  The lane drop was painted about a month ago to alleviate major backups on the EB I-64 onramp and the NB I-195 onramp.  The pre-existing acceleration lane is not very long and right after it there is a local offramp.

What sort of backup?  I hadn't seen one yet.

This is an interim measure, as there have been studies as to how to upgrade the Bryan Park Interchange (I-95/I-64/I-195).