Virginia Gov. Robert F. McDonnell shakes hands with caterer Wilma Little, who provided food for a bill-signing ceremony in July. Photo: KJ Mushung

Gov. Bob McDonnell will break ground on new Interstate 95 express lanes Tuesday, Aug. 7 at 9:30 a.m.

The event will take place at the Dale City rest area on I-95 south at mile marker 155.

The express lanes project will expand the existing HOV lanes from Dumfries to Edsall roads and extend new HOV lanes from Dumfries to Garrisonville roads, resulting in 29 miles of express lanes in which vehicles with three or more people can use for free. Vehicles with fewer than three passengers can choose to pay a toll to use the express lanes or they can ride the general purpose lanes for free.

The project includes adding more parking spaces to commuter lots.

According to the Virginia Department of Transportation, there will be an additional 600 spaces at the Saratoga/EPG park and ride lot in Fairfax County and 700 spaces at the Telegraph Road-Old PRTC bus garage park and ride lot in Prince William County.

By end of 2014, the plan is that there will be 1,000 spaces at Staffordboro Boulevard in Stafford County and 1,000 spaces in Spotsylvania County at Gordon Road.

Additionally, a 1,000-space garage will be constructed along with the new Potomac Nationals Stadium at Stonebridge in Prince William County.

By: KJ Mushung

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