The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) adopted on Thursday a new six year plan, which included $78 million for the Town of Dumfries to support the construction costs of the town’s project to widen Route 1.

“This project has been a top priority of the town for over a decade, and has been a vision for this town dating back to the late 1990s,” said Dumfries Mayor Derrick Wood. “Not only will we widen Route 1, but we will also have the opportunity to create economic development in our town reclaiming ownership of our Main Street.” 

The total cost for the project is $126 million. The town previously received NVTA grant awards totalling $48 million. NVTA’s new approval provides the remaining necessary funds to see the project through.

“This is another historic moment for the Town of Dumfries,” said Councilwoman Selonia Miles who represents Dumfries as Vice-Chair of the NVTA’s Planning Coordination Advisory Committee. “We will finally be able to relieve traffic congestion in our town and fully develop our Main Street. This promise made to our citizens coming to fruition will improve quality of life almost immediately. I am proud to have been able to play a role in this process.”

The Dumfries Route 1 Widening Project will create northbound and southbound travel lanes in the existing footprint where the current northbound lanes are. Once completed, the town will be able to reclaim Main Street which is currently serving as Southbound Route 1. The town’s government plans to provide a project update to the public this fall.