VDOT News - Culpeper

CULPEPER — To improve safety and traffic flow on southbound Route 15/29 in the Opal area of Fauquier County, the Virginia Department of Transportation will restrict Frontage Route 1077 (Marsh Road) to local traffic only.

The change involves closing off access to Route 17 southbound from the signalized Opal intersection by constructing a U-turn facility. Through motorists will instead use the loop ramp on Route 15/29 just south of Opal to reach Route 17.

Local access to commercial and residential entrances will be maintained, and Route 17 northbound traffic will not be restricted.

The week of Nov. 14, a VDOT crew will construct the U-turn, located near the entrance to the private Pomeroy Lane. No work is planned from Nov. 21 to 28 to avoid disruption to Thanksgiving travel. On the morning of Nov. 29, the roadway will be re-striped, and motorists should expect the closure to take effect before the afternoon rush hour.

The through-traffic restriction will alleviate backups in the Route 15/29 left-turn lane and through lanes, particularly during the afternoon commute and on weekends. This congestion has resulted in a high rate of rear-end and side-swipe crashes near the Opal intersection.

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