RELEASE: CONTACT:

IMMEDIATE Jeff Caldwell 804-524-6179 richmondinfo@VDOT.Virginia.gov Jennifer Smith 804-524-6387

RICH-0504 Jan. 12, 2005

VDOT TO OPEN ROUTE 288 WOOLRIDGE ROAD INTERCHANGE THURSDAY--Route 288 Speed Limit Also Raised to 65 mph

RICHMOND—The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will open the new Route 288/Woolridge Road interchange Thursday, marking the completion of major construction on the Route 288 project. Coinciding with the new interchange opening, VDOT will increase the speed limit on Route 288 near the new interchange to 65 mph. Speed limits in this area had been lowered to 55 mph while construction work continued.

VDOT opened the final segment of Route 288 between Midlothian Turnpike and Lucks Lane in mid November 2004. At that time, the Woolridge Road interchange remained the only portion of the project not yet open to traffic. VDOT and Vecillio and Grogan, the contractor building this portion of Route 288, concentrated efforts since November to get the interchange open to traffic. Crews completed the final pavement marking and traffic signal work on Wednesday.

The new interchange will serve motorists who currently access homes and businesses in that area of Chesterfield County using the Lucks Lane or Midlothian Turnpike interchanges and Charter Colony Parkway. The brand new interchange and approximately half-mile extension of Woolridge Road will provide new access to Route 288 and should alleviate some congestion from Charter Colony Parkway.

“We would like to thank the residents of Chesterfield County for their patience as we complete the final work on this 17.5-mile Route 288 construction project,” said Thomas A. Hawthorne, P.E., VDOT’s Richmond District Administrator. “We are also glad to give motorists an additional time savings by raising the Route 288 speed limit to the 65 mph level for which it was designed. As we designate this segment of Route 288 a 65 mph zone, we remind motorists to drive safely and obey all traffic laws.”

Some minor construction work and lane closures may take place on Route 288 this spring as crews complete the final punch list items on the roadway and demobilize from the three-year project.

For more information about this or any VDOT project or program, visit www.VirginiaDOT.org.

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