VDOT will present options stemming from the study and take public comment on July 8.
Caroline County residents will get their first chance next week to examine a study conducted on the 15 mile stretch of U.S. 1 that runs through their community, with an eye on traffic and safety improvements.
The proposals could change the nature of that section of highway considerably over the next two decades.
The study is part of “Project Pipeline,” which was created by the Commonwealth Transportation Board to look at cost effective solutions to transportation needs across the state. The Virginia Department of Transportation will lay out some of the improvement options being discussed and collect input at a public meeting on July 8.
Part of the study looks at overflow traffic from Interstate 95 onto the U.S. 1 corridor, which often occurs when there is a backup or crash on the interstate, which runs parallel to U.S. 1 in Caroline.
There will also be a focus on potential safety hazards, such as the lack of turn lanes, pedestrian crosswalks, and sidewalks at the 12 major intersections along U.S. 1.
Posted speed limits on that stretch of roadway vary from 45 to 55 mph.
There was a fatal crash at the intersection of Jericho Road/Rogers Clark Boulevard and U.S. 1 in 2022. The preliminary study indicates there were 175 crashes across the 12 major intersections along the entire 15 mile stretch over a six-year period—actually lower than the average crash rate at all intersections in Caroline County as a whole.
The greatest number of crashes in the last six years—47—was at the intersection of U.S. 1 and Ladysmith Road. The state has just finished intersection improvements at that location, including two left turn lanes, two through lanes and an exclusive right turn lane from both approaches.
None of the changes proposed by the study (see below) have been funded and it will be up to Caroline County to apply for funding for all or none of them under the state’s Smart Scale program, beginning next year.
Current projections indicate a 2% increase in traffic along those 15 miles in each of the next 22 years.
Preliminary cost estimates for all five projects combined over a six-year period would be more than $71.7 million, but VDOT engineer Kyle Bates says that estimate comes before any engineering studies have been done.
He says difficulty with the terrain or a need to take right of way property could raise the cost significantly.
Bates says VDOT is particularly looking for improvement suggestions from the people who work on U.S. 1 or travel that route regularly, and from those who live in the neighborhoods along the corridor.
For example, one area the public has already expressed concern about is the turn off U.S. 1 into the 1,000-home Lake Caroline subdivision in Ruther Glen.
Here are some of the preliminary proposals:
Route 1 at Cedon Road. Cost: $9.1 million.
Construct northbound left-turn lanes along U.S. 1 at the intersections with State Routes 632 and 661 for safer turning movements and construct a southbound left-turn lane along U.S. 1 at the Route 632 intersection.
The southbound right-turn lane radius along U.S. 1 to Route 632 to be improved for safer turning movement. Lane markings to be installed for the eastbound approaches to U.S. 1 for both Routes 632 and 661. For the westbound approach along Route 632 at U.S. 1, the southern portion to be closed and the northbound right-turn radius to be improved for safer access to and from U.S. 1.
Turn Lanes at Lake Caroline. Cost: $10.4 million
Construct a northbound left-turn lane and an offset southbound right-turn lane along U.S. 1 at the Caroline Drive intersection.
Provide lane markings for the eastbound approach as a separate left and right turn lane.
U.S. 1 and Ladysmith Road. Cost: $35.2 million
Construct a sidewalk on the east side of U.S. 1 from the existing sidewalk from the Ladysmith Shopping complex to the Ladysmith Commons Boulevard area, and on the west side of U.S. 1 from the existing sidewalk located at the CVS to Pine Tree Drive.
Construct northbound left-turn lanes along U.S. 1 at the following intersections: Durrette Road, Deerfield Road, and Pine Tree Drive.
Construct southbound left-turn lanes along U.S. 1 at following intersections: Starr Drive and Glen Meadows Drive.
U.S. 1 and State Routes 207/658 Crosswalk and Sidewalk Improvement. Cost: $13 million
Install crosswalks for all approaches at the intersection of U.S. 1 and State Route 207, with pedestrian signal heads.
Install sidewalks along Route 207 on both sides from U.S. 1 to Welcome Way and install ADA ramps and subsequent driveway locations.
Paige/Mayre Road at U.S. 1. Cost: $4.1 million
The project will construct left-turn lanes for the northbound and southbound directions along U.S. 1 for safer turning movements at the intersection of State Route 605. The northbound right-turn radius from U.S. 1 to Route 605 will be improved for a safer turning movement.
VDOT staff will be present on these proposals and take public comment on July 8 at Lewis and Clark Elementary School on York Boulevard in Ruther Glen, from 6 to 8 p.m.
By Hank Silverberg
CORRESPONDENT
