U.S. Department of Transportation Signs I-95 Corridor of the Future Development Agreement with Five States to Relieve Congestion

Topics:  Interstate Highway System

Federal Highway Administration
15 January 2009

FHWA 04-09
Contact: Nancy Singer
Friday, January 16, 2009
Tel.: (202) 366-0660

WASHINGTON - A key stretch of Interstate 95 from Virginia to Florida is on its way to congestion relief and mobility improvements thanks to an agreement signed today by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia departments of transportation, U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters announced today.

The agreement commits the five states to the reconstruction and expansion of a 1,054 mile stretch of the 1,917 mile long I-95 corridor from Florida to Virginia which will accommodate future demand, safety, and reliability. Construction began on the initial portion of I-95 in 1956: today, sections along the corridor need substantial rehabilitation and reconstruction to accommodate increasing traffic volumes.

"We are proactively encouraging states to focus on relieving congestion on corridors that are critical to the nation's economy and America's businesses," Secretary Peters said.

The agreement was signed as part of the Corridors of the Future Program and is part of the Department's national plan to relieve congestion. It is specifically designed to accelerate the development of multi-state, regional approaches to reducing congestion and improving freight delivery. The benefits of the program include priority access to the Department's credit assistance and tolling programs, consistent with existing law. I-95 is one of six Interstates included in the federal initiative.

"Congestion affects the nation's businesses and the economy, and it is critical that we begin finding solutions now to improve the movement of goods and people," Federal Highway Administrator Tom Madison said.