Fall Hill Ave. Improvements Take Shape

moved a little closer to full realization last night when the Fredericksburg City Council approved a $1.4 million agreement with Kimley-Horn and Associates to provide preliminary engineering additional design services for a new portion of the project. 

"This is a project that has been a long time in coming," said at-large Councilor Kerry Devine last night. "It really addresses many of the safety concerns from our residents who want to walk or bike along Fall Hill Avenue."

The proposed improvements would include a new bridge over I-95 near Bragg Hill and the extension of Mary Washington Boulevard to Fall Hill Avenue, parallel to the Rappahannock Canal. Fall Hill Avenue would expand to four lanes. The project is also a part of the city's comprehensive plan. 

Last night's agreement amends a contract awarded to Kimley-Horn in June of 2010 for four transportation projects in Fredericksburg, including the upcoming replacement of the

At the time the contract was awarded, there was also discussion of adding a fifth project, namely the I-95 bridge, to the package. Recent transportation allocations to the city have have allowed officials to take on the full project much sooner than expected, according to a city memo distributed to the City Council before last night's meeting. 

"This project…has evolved very quickly," said Doug Fawcett, director of public works for Fredericksburg. "Twelve months ago, there was really not much talk at all beyond replacing the bridge over the canal. 

Under the revised contract, Kimley-Horn will conduct preliminary engineering work and environmental and cultural resource studies required by law. That process will take a year, said Fawcett. From there, the project taken over by the Virginia Department of Transportation who will oversee the final engineering design and construction phases, as well as right-of-way acquisition. 

The project is funded from VDOT's Urban Allocation for Fredericksburg and the Fredericksburg Area Metropolitan Planning Organization and other sources in Virginia's state transportation project funding programs. The state legislature recently approved a budget which includes $35.8 million in transportation funding specifically for these projects. 

The new contract sets aside $1.3 million of those funds for the preliminary design, plus an additional $118,00 earmarked for potential additional services.