A public hearing will focus on intersection improvements along Rt. 20.
According to VDOT, two projects are being proposed for the heavily traveled roadway.
The first would consist of intersection improvements at Rt. 3 and 20. According to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the intersection has been the site of 75 crashes since 2019. The proposed project would increase safety and traffic flow by converting the existing four-leg signalized intersection into a continuous green-t intersection (GCT). In the proposed configuration, westbound Rt. 3 traffic would remain free flowing while other traffic directions would be controlled by a traffic signal. The westbound Rt. 3 traffic signal would be removed with a new three-phase signal installed to control traffic approaching from eastbound Rt. 3 and northbound Rt. 20, as well as Rt. 3 westbound motorists turning left onto Rt. 20.
As part of the project, the commercial intersection directly across from Rt. 20 accessing 7-11 would be converted to a right-in, right out access from westbound Rt. 3 only, also known as a restricted crossing u-turn (RCUT) with u-turn locations on Rt. 3 at the Rt. 667 crossover and at crossover east of the Spotsylvania County line.
Also included in the proposed project is eliminating the crossover on Rt. 3 at Lyndon Drive and extending the Rt. 3 right turn lane just west of the intersection. The Rt. 3 westbound left turn lane onto Rt. 20 would be expanded into dual turn lanes. A southbound lane would be added to Rt. 20 to facilitate merging traffic. Left turning vehicles from Rt. 20 would use a receiving lane on westbound Rt. 3 to merge with traffic. A box culvert would replace the existing pipe beneath the road at Keaton’s Run.
The county applied for and received SMART Scale funding for the $18.1 million project. According to a 2023 traffic count, the segment of Rt. 20 in question receives 11,000 vehicles per day while the western leg of Rt. 3 has an average daily traffic count of 14,000 vehicles and the eastern leg 28,000 vehicles.
The second proposed project on Rt. 20 would replace the four-leg signalized intersection at Rt. 20 and U.S. 522 with a single-lane roundabout. The project would also include moving the commercial entrance on Rt. 671, Village Road, to Rt. 20, west of the intersection, with a right-in, right-out only. The displaced left-out traffic would use a u-turn at the roundabout. The entrance at Rt. 617, Everona Road, would be changed from full access to right-in, right-out and left-out with no left-in movement. That displaced movement would also use a u-turn at the roundabout. In addition, a shared-use path would be constructed along Rt. 20 to connect Village Road to Rt. 671, Narrow Gauge Road.
According to VDOT, the project will improve safety by reducing the number of points where vehicles can cross paths and eliminating the potential for right-angle and head-on crashes. The $15 million project is being funded through the state’s priority transportation fund.
A design public hearing on both projects will be held Nov. 18, 5-7 p.m. at Locust Grove Elementary School, 31208 Constitution Highway, Locust Grove. In the case of inclement weather, the hearing will be moved to Dec. 3. Written public comments may also be submitted to VDOT Project Manager David Cubbage for the Rts. 3 and 20 project at VDOT, 1601 Orange Road, Culpeper, VA 22701 or david.cubbage@vdot.gov by Dec. 5. Reference “Route 3 at Route 20 Intersection Comment” in the subject line. Written public comments may be submitted to VDOT Assistance District Location and Design Engineer John Rose for the Rts. 20 at 522 project at VDOT, 1601 Orange Road, Culpeper, VA 22701 or john.rose1@vdot.gov by Dec. 5. Reference “Route 20 at U.S. 522 Roundabout Comment” in the subject line.
If approved, the Rts. 3 and 20 intersection project is estimated to begin in spring 2028 with completion in fall 2029. The roundabout project would begin in spring 2027 with completion in fall 2028.
