Project Begins To Improve Route 3, Route 14 And Route 17 Business (Main Street) Intersection In Gloucester

Construction of a project to reduce driver delay at the intersection of Route 3/Route 14 (John Clayton Memorial Highway) and Route 17 Business (Main Street) in Gloucester County will begin after the Labor Day holiday, on Wednesday, Sept. 9.

When construction is complete in February 2021, Route 17 Business traffic will have dual left turn lanes and dual right turn lanes when turning onto Route 3/14.

An average of 27,500 vehicles travel through the intersection each day, according to 2019 Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) traffic data.

On Route 3/14, the traffic pattern approaching Route 17 Business will change to allow for dual left turns southbound. One of the left turn lanes will become a shared lane, and would allow traffic to turn left, proceed straight across, or turn right.

New sidewalks with handicapped-accessible ramps, crosswalks, and traffic signal equipment for pedestrian crossings will be installed at the intersection.

Construction crews will begin work in September by building sidewalk and handicapped-accessible ramps, followed by the construction of new concrete medians, turn lanes, and installation of new pavement markings. In December, crews are expected to begin installation of the new traffic signal equipment.

Most lane closures for construction will be scheduled to occur outside of peak travel times. No lane closures are permitted on Route 3/14 westbound and Route 17 southbound between 5-9 a.m. on weekdays, or between 4-7 p.m. on Route 3/14 eastbound and Route 17 northbound.

Outside of restricted hours, motorists are encouraged to allow additional travel time to navigate the work zone area at the intersection.

For traffic traveling from Mathews County on Route 3/14, approaching the Route 17 Business intersection, traffic will be reduced to a single lane for all movements during the majority of the project, expect for 5-9 a.m. on weekdays.

The project contractor is Shamrock Construction Corporation of Hampton, Va.

Project Background

Gloucester County submitted an application to build this $1.5 million project through Virginia’s SMART SCALE transportation funding program.

SMART SCALE was established to choose the right transportation projects for funding and ensure the best use of limited tax dollars. Potential projects that have been determined to meet a need identified in VTrans – the state’s long-range multi-modal transportation plan – are scored based on safety, congestion, accessibility, land use, economic development and the environment.

Once projects are scored and prioritized, the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) has the best information possible to select projects for funding.

To view how funded SMART SCALE projects are advancing toward construction, visit the SMART SCALE Dashboard.

Stay Updated

Real-time updates on this work zone, lane closures and congestion will be available on 511Virginia.

Download the free mobile 511Virginia app for Apple and Android devices to stay connected, or visit www.511Virginia.org. Motorists also can reach 511Virginia by calling 511 from any phone in Virginia.

Follow VDOT Fredericksburg District on Twitter at @VaDOTFRED.

Read Hot Spots, the weekly list of scheduled lane closures in the Fredericksburg District, including for this project. This list is published every Friday afternoon for the following week.

VDOT’s 14-county Fredericksburg District includes the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford in the Fredericksburg area; Northumberland, Richmond, Lancaster and Westmoreland counties in the Northern Neck; Essex, Gloucester, King & Queen, King William, Mathews and Middlesex counties in the Middle Peninsula.