Project Overview

The proposed project would widen Route 2/17 (Dixon Street and Tidewater Trail) from just south of Dixon Park and Howison Avenue/nearby McKinney Street in the City of Fredericksburg to south of Shannon Airport at Imboden Street in Spotsylvania County.

The road would be widened to four lanes.

Additional proposed improvements include: 

• 10-foot-wide shared-use path along the eastern side of Route 2/17
• Crosswalk and pedestrian crossing signal equipment at the Shannon Park Drive and Mansfield Park intersection
• Intersection improvements at Lansdowne Road
• Improved bus stop at Dixon Park 

The proposed improvements along Route 2/17 are two separate projects, but they would be built at the same time through a single construction contract. 

The total cost for the improvements is estimated to be $70.6 million, funded through a combination of funds from Virginia's SMART SCALE program and locality funds.

The City of Fredericksburg submitted a SMART SCALE application to improve the Dixon Street/Lansdowne Road intersection by lengthening several turn lanes and widening Dixon Street to four lanes. Spotsylvania County submitted a SMART SCALE application to widen Route 2/17, add a shared-use path along the road's eastern side, make pedestrian crossing improvements at Shannon Park Drive and Mansfield Street, and add facilities for a Fredericksburg Regional Transit feeder bus service to the Amtrak/Virginia railway Express train station in Fredericksburg from the Bowman Center.

City of Fredericksburg SMART SCALE application

Spotsylvania County SMART SCALE application

Design Public Hearing 

A design public hearing on this project has been scheduled for: 

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

5-7 p.m.

Elks Lodge #875

11309 Tidewater Trail

Fredericksburg, VA 22408

Stop by between 5-7 p.m. to review proposed project plans and materials, ask questions, and offer comment. VDOT representatives will be present to answer questions about the project in an open house format. No formal presentation will be delivered. 

• Project page on VDOT website
• Design Public Hearing newspaper advertisement
• Design Public Hearing Display: Dixon Park/Howison Street and near McKinney Street to George Coghill Street
• Design Public Hearing Display: Oldfield Street area, Lansdowne Road area, and Lee Hill Drive/Joseph Mills Drive area
• Design Public Hearing Display: Shannon Park Drive/Mansfield Street area to Shannon Airport area

Give your comments at the hearing, or submit them by August 2, 2025, in one of the following ways:

• Take the online survey at the bottom of this page
• Mail comments to Byrd Holloway, VDOT Project Management Office Team Lead, 87 Deacon Road, Fredericksburg, VA 22405
• Email comments to fred.comments@vdot.virginia.gov. Please reference "Route 2/17 Widening" in the email subject line. 

​Project contacts

Byrd Holloway, P.E.

VDOT Project Management Office Team Lead

Curtis.Holloway@vdot.virginia.gov ​

(540) 374-3367

and

Alexis Breeden

VDOT Senior Communications Specialist

(540) 547-1752 cell 

Alexis.Breeden@vdot.virginia.gov 

Phase: Proposed

Special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency: VDOT ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. If you need assistance in regards to your civil rights, or for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact the project manager at the phone number listed above.