SPRINGFIELD – Gov. Timothy M. Kaine today joined federal, state and local officials to celebrate the completion of one of the largest construction projects in the nation to improve one of the busiest interchanges on the East Coast.

The eight-year, $676 million Springfield Interchange Improvement Project is finished on time and on budget, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).

“The Springfield Interchange Improvement Project is a stellar example of what the commonwealth and the community can achieve together,” said Kaine. “We’ve greatly improved the quality of life for nearly half a million motorists a day.”

“It is through the dedication of literally thousands of VDOT, contractor and local government staff that a project of this magnitude goes from vision to reality,” said Virginia Transportation Secretary Pierce R. Homer. “The dedication of these individuals brings tangible congestion relief to not only the Virginia motorists who travel through this major interchange, but the thousands of interstate travelers who depend on this interchange as a gateway to Virginia.”

“The completion of the new Springfield Interchange ahead of schedule and on budget will enhance mobility for all of us here in Fairfax County and Northern Virginia,” said Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gerald E. Connolly. “Separating local commuters from long-distance travelers has removed choke points and improved safety for everyone passing through this regional gateway.”

"Opening this interchange proves that sitting in traffic doesn't have to be a fact of life," said Federal Highway Deputy Administrator James Ray.

The new interchange — where Interstates 95, 395 and 495 converge — boasts 50 new ramps and bridges built to smooth traffic and separate local and long-distance traffic. The project was constructed in seven phases over eight years using 43,000 tons of steel, 100,000 cubic yards of concrete, 750,000 tons of asphalt and 25 tons of grass seed.

“When we started construction in 1999, we promised to finish the project in mid-2007 and I am proud to say we kept that promise,” said VDOT Commissioner David S. Ekern. “We also promised in 2002—after the project’s cost increased dramatically— that the budget would be $676 million. We have kept that promise.”

The former infamous Mixing Bowl was known for massive delays, a high accident rate and nerve rattling merges that tormented drivers. The new interchange is much safer, easier to navigate and less stressful for drivers.

To minimize congestion-related delays during construction VDOT, the Department of Rail and Transportation, Fairfax County and other local agencies developed and implemented a congestion management plan that included:

• Adding nearly 5,000 park-and-ride spaces in the I-95 corridor



• Enhancing bus and train services and creating a new vanpool program



• Increasing the number of Safety Service Patrols to assist stranded motorists and clear incidents



• Making improvements to some congested intersections near the interchange prior to construction



• Improving incident response times with a mobile command vehicle for use during major accidents and a mobile foam truck to clear potentially dangerous incidents more quickly and safely



• Opening an Information Center at Springfield Mall that attracted 5,000 visitors a month

“The effort to help commuters avoid delays has made this project a model for other states and demonstrated our commitment to motorists and the business community when building a project of this size,” said Ekern.

HNTB designed the interchange and Dewberry Davis and Bechtel provided engineering services.

Contractors included Shirley Contracting Company, Lane Construction and Archer Western.

More information on the celebration is available here. More information on the project is available at springfieldinterchange.com or at VirginiaDOT.org.

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Page last modified: Sept. 7, 2007