South Fork Bridge and innovative new intersection opening soon in Warren County

FRONT ROYAL – October and November will bring major traffic-pattern changes to one of the busiest intersections in the area as the new South Fork Shenandoah River bridge project nears completion in Warren County.

That project includes Virginia’s first Quadrant Roadway Intersection (QRI), located at Route 340/522 (Shenandoah Avenue) and Route 55 (Strasburg Road). VDOT has launched a new website and scheduled public-outreach meetings to help familiarize drivers with this unique traffic pattern.

The QRI project in Warren County is located at the Route 55 (Strasburg Road) and Route 340/522 (North Shenandoah Avenue) intersection. The quarter loop is named Quadrant Road. Photos / Virginia Department of Transportation

Facts to know:

• The portion of Route 55 between Route 340/522 and Quadrant Road will close for paving from October 2-13, 2017. Quadrant Road will serve as a detour route. VDOT will offer additional information about the closure in late September.
• Final paving will occur throughout October 2017 on Route 340/522, Route 55 and Quadrant Road. This requires flagger traffic control weekdays from 9 a.m. to3 p.m. and overnight from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
• In mid-November, the QRI and all six lanes of the new South Fork bridge will become fully operational.

Two public meetings will focus on educating the public about South Fork/QRI project and related traffic changes (PDF available here):

• Thursday, September 28, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Warren County Government Center, 220 North Commerce Avenue, Front Royal, VA 22630.
• Friday, September 29, from 3:15 to 6:30 p.m. at A. S. Rhodes Elementary School, 224 West Strasburg Road, Front Royal, VA 22630.

VDOT will share traffic-simulation videos, maps and other helpful information about the new intersection. These materials are provided in this article below, and also available on a dedicated website: QRIVirginia.org.

VDOT spokeswoman Sandy Myers said in a press release that the QRI was chosen for this congested area because it handles more vehicles and offers fewer delays than a conventional four-way signalized intersection. This is achieved by moving left-turns away from the intersection of Route 340/522 and Route 55, and relocating them to the intersections with Quadrant Road. The QRI provides substantially more green-light time for north-south traffic on Route 340/522, which is the dominant pattern at this intersection.
The new Route 340/522 bridge crosses the South Fork of the Shenandoah River and the Norfolk Southern railway. The bridge is 1,910 feet long with two southbound lanes, two northbound through-lanes and two northbound left-turn lanes. There are also bicycle lanes and sidewalks on both sides of the structure. It replaces a four-lane bridge that was built in 1941.

The Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded a $48.4 million construction contract to G.A. & F.C. Wagman Inc. of York, Pa., in October 2013. The project has a contract completion date of December 1, 2017. Additional information is available on the VDOT project page HERE.

All work is weather permitting, and the opening schedule is subject to change.

Directional Information Design

East/West
Route 55 is an east-west highway. Familiar landmarks are A.S. Rhodes Elementary School on the western side of this intersection and Riverton United Methodist and Greater Joy Baptist churches on the eastern side.

North/South
Route 340/522 is a north-south roadway with Interstate 66 located north and the Town of Front Royal located south of this intersection.

Driving Through the QRI

Videos and directional information:

QRI – Quadrant Roadway Intersection: An Innovative Intersection Design

Innovative intersections enable more efficient traffic flow. The Federal Highway Administration has sanctioned several design standards including the Quadrant Roadway Intersection (QRI).

Today’s road designs are emerging from standards set in the mid-20th Century. In the last 60 to 70 years communities have grown and traffic patterns have changed. Innovative intersection designs are experiencing increased popularity in the 21st century as solutions to intersections with extensive traffic backups.

More information about VDOT’s Innovative Intersection program is available at this link: http://www.virginiadot.org/innovativeintersections.

Warren County QRI

The Warren County QRI is part of the South Fork Bridge construction project, which brings sustainable bridge construction that potentially will last a century before replacement is needed. The QRI is an innovative cost-effective solution for a congested traffic area, where it offers the following benefits over a conventional four-way signalized intersection:

• Keeps more vehicles moving.
• Provides fewer delays and more “green light” time for north-south traffic, which is the dominant traffic pattern at this intersection.
• Handles 5-15% more traffic volume, and reduces travel time by 5-20%. (Source: Federal Highway Administration)

The QRI protects the nearby historic district by increasing the intersection’s service life, thus delaying further construction that could impact designated historic sites. Current and future transportation conditions require continued thoughtful and efficient planning.

All traffic signals on the bridge, at the QRI and at Duck Street will be coordinated to minimize travel times through the intersection area of Route 340/522 and Route 55.

The speed limit through the QRI area is 35 miles per hour. The speed limit on Quadrant Road is 25 miles per hour.