More residents of Prince William County may be finding themselves driving to Dumfries — rather than through it — in the future.
The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) unanimously approved its fiscal year 2020-25 Six Year Program on Thursday.
As part of the plan, NVTA is providing the Town of Dumfries with $78 million for the Route 1 Widening Project.
“It’s like a rush of energy and it creates momentum, I believe,” Mayor Derrick Wood said. “It creates … a lot of momentum, because what this is going to spark is it’s going to spark a lot of energy, a lot of economic development now that’s going to come … I’m just excited … In my head, I’m running around in circles right now.”
NVTA awarded $45 million for the Route 1 Widening Project in 2018.
Northbound and southbound lanes will be constructed through the Route 1 Widening Project, enabling the Town of Dumfries to reclaim Main Street.
“We’re just really excited about being able to build a destination place where families, where people can walk, ride their bikes, they can come and do some shopping, they can really sit down and relax and be entertained — to really have that community center type of effect, where the whole community just comes together,” Wood added.
The Town of Dumfries is going to manage this project with the Potomac District Supervisor’s Office.
Wood voiced appreciation for those who played a part in the project, including community members who provided input as well as State Senator Scott Surovell, Supervisors Andrea Bailey and Ann Wheeler, the Town Council, and past and current staff.
“On behalf of the town citizens, [I] am extremely grateful for the work that they’ve done to make this project happen,” Wood said.
