President Joe Biden signed into law Saturday legislation to provide funds for projects in Spotsylvania County, Stafford County and Fredericksburg.
The legislation introduced by U.S. Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D-7th District) invests more than $6.5 million in infrastructure, road improvements and workforce development in the three localities.
It resulted from the U.S. House of Representatives being allowed specific community project funding requests for fiscal year 2024. Spanberger worked directly with local officials to determine $12.2 million in requests for her district. The remaining funds went to projects in Prince William, Culpeper, Greene and Madison counties.
The largest local investment is $4.1 million to Spotsylvania to provide safety and capacity improvements to Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1 at the exit 126 interchange.
The investment will help construct a dual left turn from U.S. 1 northbound to I-95 northbound and widen the I-95 northbound onramp to two lanes. A 1,500-foot acceleration lane continuing for the onramp will also be built as well as additional improvements to U.S. 1 southbound through the exit interchange.
Spotsylvania County Administrator Ed Petrovich said the exit 126 project will “assist in transforming transportation infrastructure in the Fredericksburg region,” particularly as the new Veteran Affairs healthcare clinic opens in that area soon.
The legislation also secured $500,000 to help design and construct a new 1-million-gallon water tower to replace the existing 250,000-gallon tank. Spanberger’s legislation helped secure $3 million for the new water tower in FY23, which was signed into law by Biden at the end of 2022.
Petrovich added that the elevated water storage tank project will provide the county with one million gallons of potable drinking water that meets all state and federal standards.
“The need for improvements along I-95 is clear,” Spanberger said. “This funding will help more Virginians get safely where they’re going and – once constructed – improve access to the Fredericksburg healthcare clinic for the region’s veterans. I’m grateful to deliver another round of federal funding for the new Spotsylvania County water tower and continue making progress on this project to support the region’s growth.”
Stafford will receive $1.5 million in road improvements and an additional $246,000 to purchase a computerized emergency dispatch system for the sheriff’s office.
A total of $1 million will go toward widening and realigning approximately 0.45 miles of Onville Road to provide 12-foot travel lanes with curbs and gutters, a two-way left turn lane down the center of the roadway, dedicated turn lanes at the Barrett Heights Road and Garrison Woods Drive intersections, and 5-foot sidewalks along both sides of the highway.
The additional $500,000 will help complete improvements along U.S. 1 near Courthouse Road. This investment would widen approximately 0.65 miles of U.S. 1 to provide dedicated left turn lanes onto Courthouse Road, Bells Hill Road, and Hope Road, install a concrete median, and add 8-foot sidewalks to improve pedestrian access.
“Transportation and public safety are among our biggest priorities,” Stafford Board of Supervisors Chair Meg Bohmke said. “This $1.5 million award will help us with two of our critical transportation projects and the other award would assist our sheriff’s office.”
Spanberger’s legislation also included $200,000 to the Bay Consortium Workforce Development Board to modernize the American Job Center in Fredericksburg and bring the facility up to Americans with Disability Act standards.
The lobby, resource room and conference room will be outfitted with ADA-compliant workstations and provide high speed internet access for staff and job seekers. Spanberger said the investment will lower barriers to unemployment in the region and state.
“This investment will not only enhance the accessibility and infrastructure of the American Job Center … but will also serve as a catalyst for connecting Virginians to employment opportunities,” said Jackie Smith, executive director of the Bay Consortium Workforce Development Board. “By providing equal access to employment services and resources, we are enabling individuals to reach their true potential and contribute to the economic vitality of our community.”
