Traveling south on Interstate 95 at Exit 86A, Junction Virginia Secondary 656 east to Atlee, a small map sign shows how Interstate 295 provides a bypass of Richmond, the capital city of Virginia, by using a route that passes to the east of the busy Richmond-Petersburg corridor. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (06/17/05).
Routing
Interstate 295 is the main Bypass of Petersburg and Richmond for Interstates 64 and 95. The freeway was originally intended to carry Interstate 95 signage, as the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike was clogged with through traffic. However, once the tolls were removed, Interstate 95 was no longer considered for relocation to a new, easterly route, so that route became part of Interstate 295. Originally, Interstate 295 was to be a complete, 360-degree beltway around Richmond, but that plan was scrapped in favor of routing Interstate 295 south to Petersburg. However, a beltway is being constructed in effect via Virginia 288 and Future Interstate 895. Also of interest is the James River cable stayed bridge. This bridge is similar to the Delaware 1 Chesapeake and Delaware Canal span in St. Georges, Delaware, and the Interstate 275 Sunshine Skyway Bridge of St. Petersburg, Florida. The southern leg of Interstate 295 opened to traffic June of 1992.1
Source: Virginia Department of Transportation 2002 AADT
Southern Terminus - Interstate 95 - south of Petersburg
Perspective from Interstate 295 south
In preparation for the southern terminus of Interstate 295 and merge onto Interstate 95 south, these guide signs advise motorists to move into the left lane. There are 35 miles between the upcoming interchange and the city of Emporia. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
Exit 1 overhead on Interstate 295 southbound. The exit number applies only to the return ramp to Petersburg via Interstate 95 northbound. The merge for traffic onto Interstate 95 southbound uses a sweeping ramp. The ramp is so long that it takes Interstate 295 an additional mile to merge with Interstate 95. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
A second reminder for southbound motorists destined for Interstate 95 to stay to the left ahead as Exit 1 departs to the right. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
Exit 1 sign bridge on Interstate 295 southbound, one quarter of a mile from the northbound Interstate 95 ramp. The northern terminus of Interstate 85 is just five miles to the north. Interstate 295 is a useful bypass for Interstate 85 motorists who bypass Richmond. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
Interstate 295 southbound at Exit 1/Interstate 95 north. The left two lanes reduce to one by the time they merge onto Interstate 95 southbound. Rocky Mount, North Carolina is another 92 miles to the south. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
Continuing oh the long ramp to Interstate 95 southbound from Interstate 295 southbound. The next interchange for southbound motorists is Exit 45 for the parallel U.S. 301. Interstate 95 and U.S. 301 intertangle southward to the North Carolina border. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
Perspective from Interstate 95 north
Entering the Petersburg metropolitan area on Interstate 95 northbound. The beginning of Interstate 295 occurs at Exit 46 in one mile. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
This auxiliary guide sign for Interstate 295 includes the Petersburg area city of Hopewell and military installation Fort Lee. Colonial Williamsburg can be reached by taking Interstate 295 to Virginia 5 or Interstate 64 east. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
Interstate 95 northbound, one half mile south of Interstate 295/Exit 46. Typically posted on Virginia Interstate highways, a VMS can be seen in the background. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
Interstate 95/295 northbound split at Exit 46. Interstate 95 maintains a 65 mph speed limit while it bypasses Petersburg and Richmond to the east. The freeway widens to six lanes to the east of Richmond and is a good alternative to the often congested Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike between Interstates 85 and 64. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/02/03).
Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 95 north
Interstate 95 southbound at Exit 48A/Wagner Road east, 1.75 miles north of Interstate 295/Exit 46, Wagner Road was touted as Interstate 795 on the 1988 official Virginia State Map. This plan obviously never came to fruition. Otherwise the highway is a divided surface street between U.S. 301 and U.S. 460 in south Petersburg. Photo taken by Carter Buchanan (07/01).
Interstate 95 southbound, one half mile from Interstate 295 north/Exit 46. The southern terminus of Interstate 295 interchange features a left-hand off-ramp from Interstate 95 and a left-hand merge from Interstate 295 south. While this occurs Interstate 95 reduces to one lane for a short spell between the on and off-ramps to/from Interstate 295. Vidcap taken by Alex Nitzman (08/26/96).
Interstate 295 returns to the north for traffic interests to Hopewell and Richmond. This ramp does receive traffic from Interstate 85 motorists who are traveling to Washington, D.C. and other points north. Note that Interstate 95 southbound motorists are to use the center lane only. Photo taken by Carter Buchanan (07/01).
Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 95 south
After the Interstate 95, U.S. 1, and U.S. 33 interchanges, northbound Interstate 295 angles to the southwest as it meets Exits 51A-B (Nuckols Road) and finally Interstate 64 at Exits 53A-B. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (06/17/05).
The end of northbound (westbound) Interstate 295 is announced on this white sign, which indicates the freeway ends in one mile at Interstate 64. At the interchange, stub ramps for previously planned but never constructed southerly extension is evident. This stub will not be constructed, and the newly opened Virginia 288 (late 2004 opening date) acts in this capacity. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (06/17/05).
The left two lanes of Interstate 295 will end as the freeway approaches its junction with Interstate 64 at Exits 53A-B. The first exit connects to Interstate 64 west to Charlottesville, while the second ramp connects to Interstate 64 east to Richmond and to U.S. 250. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (06/17/05).
Westbound Interstate 295 splits, with the first ramp connecting to Interstate 64 west at Exit 53A. The last exit is for Exit 53B, Interstate 64 west. There is a stub end for Interstate 295 to continue south, but it does not currently connect to anything. Follow Interstate 64 west to Virginia 288 south to bypass Richmond and return to Interstate 95 south. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (06/17/05).
Perspective from Interstate 64 east
Interstate 295 and U.S. 250 overheads on Interstate 64 east. Notice the omittance of a direction associated with Interstate 295. Signage on the portion of Interstate 295 west of Interstate 64 still show it as north/south, even though the orientation is east/west. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (1/2/01).
Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 64 east
Westbound Interstate 64 at the Exit 178 cloverleaf interchange with U.S. 250 at Short Pump. The northern terminus of Interstate 64 is just 0.75 miles west of this sign bridge. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/01/03).
Just past the merge of U.S. 250 traffic onto Interstate 64 west is this Exit 177 overhead for Interstate 295 south. The freeway receives control points of its connections: Washington for Interstate 95 north and Norfolk for Interstate 64 east. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/01/03).
A sign that Interstate 64 is exiting the Richmond metropolitan area is that the freeway reduces from six to four lanes. Exit 177 for Interstate 295 south departs to the right as Interstate 64 continues another 56 miles westward to Charlottesville. Photo taken by Andy Field (06/01/03).
Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 64 west
This map inset from the 1968 Virginia Official State Map shows that Interstate 295 was originally contemplated as a 270-degree beltway around Richmond. Today, Interstate 295 extends further south to encompass Petersburg, and the link across the James River is now provided by the toll Virginia 895 (Pocahontas Parkway).
Footnotes:
Kozel, Scott. "Re: [seroads] VDOT criticizes I81 plans." Online posting, Yahoo! Groups Southeast Roads and Transport , November 18, 2003.
