The 495 NEXT Project’s Environmental Assessment has received a “Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)” from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and National Park Service (NPS). This action enables the project to advance into the design and construction phase. Additionally, FHWA approved the project’s interchange justification report, a traffic study that includes analysis of traffic impacts and benefits associated with the 495 NEXT project.
VDOT’s environmental assessment (EA) kicked off in April 2018 to find solutions that would reduce congestion, provide additional travel choices, improve travel reliability and enhance safety on the northernmost section of I-495 in Virginia. The EA evaluated site-specific conditions and potential effects that a proposed express lanes extension would have on the natural and human environment. Guided by technical study and analysis, and public input, the recommended project was determined to have no significant impact on the environment.
VDOT is working with Transurban, private partner to the Commonwealth on the existing 495 Express Lanes, under a Framework Agreement signed in January 2019 on the 495 NEXT project, with the goal of having no public funding from the Commonwealth needed for the initiative. VDOT and Transurban are nearing completion of a final project agreement where Transurban will be responsible for the project’s financing, design, construction, and maintenance of the extended express lanes.
Construction on the 495 NEXT project is expected to begin in 2022, with the express lanes extension opening in 2025.
Find additional information on these approvals in this VDOT news release from July 9, 2021.
REVISED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, FONSI, AND RELATED DOCUMENTS
