Interstate 295 Virginia

Interstate 295 Virginia
Petersburg, VA ↔ Short Pump, VA•52.56 miles

Overview

Interstate 295 constitutes a regional bypass route for I-64 around the north side of Richmond and I-95 east of Petersburg and Richmond. With six to eight lanes, the northern arc of I-295 serves a number of suburban communities including Glen Allen and Mechanicsville. The eastern leg connects with U.S. 60 and Virginia Route 895 (Pocahontas Parkway) west to Richmond International Airport (RIC).

I-64 east at I-295 - Short Pump, VA
Interstate 64 eastbound at the flyover for I-295 east. Costing $49.1 million, the high speed ramp was completed in May 2009. Photo by Will Weaver (06/28/09).

The Varina-Enon Bridge spans the James River along I-295 at the Chesterfield / Henrico County line. Costing $35.6 million to build,1 the cable-stayed bridge is similar to the William Roth Bridge (Delaware State Route 1) over the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge (Interstate 275) over Tampa Bay in Florida. South across the Appomattox River, I-295 travels between the independent city of Hopewell and Fort Gregg-Adams. The freeway concludes in a rural area by Second Swamp south of Petersburg.

Mileage by State

Virginia52.56 mi

Data Sources

December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

History

The Interstate 295 corridor was originally envisioned as a full beltway encircling Richmond. The design was later incorporated into a proposed easterly realignment of I-95 off the congested Richmond-Peterburg Turnpike. Plans changed with the announcement that tolls on the Turnpike would be lifted in 1992. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) formally endorsed the establishment of Interstate 295 south to Peterburg on June 9, 1986.

I-95 south at I-295 - 1996
These overheads at the SR 629 (Rives Road) overpass referenced the former lane drop for I-95 south at the merge with Interstate 295. 08/26/96

The northern portion of Interstate 295 opened to traffic in 1981 at a cost of $60 million, with the federal government funding 90% of the construction.2 Work on the initial stretch of freeway commenced in May 1976 near Mechanicsville.3 Construction of the $37.7 million segment between U.S. 60 and SR 5, east of Richmond, began in July of 1984 and was completed on October 7, 1988.4

The succeeding portion of I-295 built included the Varina-Enon Bridge and a 6.8 mile section between SR 10 and SR 5. Started in March 1985, delays in road work followed a construction flaw where the Henrico County end of the Varina-Enon Bridge was four inches too low and needed adjustments. That pushed completion of the the $75 million project back from an anticipated Fall 1989 completion date. The span finally opened to traffic on July 19, 1990.1

Interstate 295 was extended 5.6 miles southward from SR 10 to SR 36 when a $57.7 million project was completed on January 21, 1992.5 The final 9.8 mile long section was scheduled to open on June 3, but officials from Petersburg successfully lobbied to delay it while tolls were still collected along Interstate 95 in the city. I-295 finally opened between Hopewell and I-95 in Prince Georges County on June 25, 1992. Tolls along the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike were discontinued on July 1, 1992.6

Richmond, VA - 1971
Interstate 295 proposed as a 270 degree beltway around Richmond – 1971 Virginia Official State Map. Pocahontas Parkway (SR 895) was eventually constructed in place of the southeast leg of I-295 here.
I-64 east at I-295 - Short Pump, VA
Looking east from the Pouncey Tract Road overpass at the flyover connecting I-64 east with Interstate 295 south at Short Pump. Photo by Will Weaver (01/13/09).
I-295 south at I-64 - Henrico Co., VA
I-295 south at the collector distributor roadway for the cloverleaf interchanges with Interstate 64 and U.S. 60 east of Richmond. Photo by Will Weaver (06/06/09).

North End Interstate 64 ‐ Short Pump, VA

Interstate 295 North at Interstate 64

I-295 north at I-64 - Wyndham, VA

Interstate 295 arcs southwest 1.5 miles from the cloverleaf interchange (Exit 51) with Nuckols Road near Wyndham to conclude at I-64. 12/30/20

I-295 north at I-64 - Wyndham, VA I-295 north at I-64 - Short Pump, VA I-295 north at I-64 - Short Pump, VA I-295 north at I-64 - Short Pump, VA I-295 north at I-64 - Short Pump, VA I-295 north at I-64 - Short Pump, VA

Interstate 64 East at Interstate 295

I-64 east at I-295 - Short Pump, VA

Traveling east from SR 288 and the Goochland County line, Interstate 64 progresses 1.5 miles to Exit 177 with I-295 southbound. 12/16/16

I-64 east at I-295 - Short Pump, VA I-64 east at I-295 - Short Pump, VA I-64 east at I-295 - Short Pump, VA I-64 east at I-295 - Short Pump, VA

Interstate 64 West at Interstate 295

I-64 west at I-295 - Innsbrook, VA

Westbound I-64 crosses the retail strip along U.S. 250 (Broad Street) at Short Pump 0.75 miles ahead of Interstate 295 at Exit 177. Photo by Will Weaver (06/28/09).

I-64 west at I-295 - Innsbrook, VA I-64 west at I-295 - Short Pump, VA I-64 west at I-295 - Short Pump, VA

North End – Past Views

Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)

Interstate 295 at Interstate 64

I-295 north at I-64 - 2005

Interstate 295 northbound, 1.5 miles ahead of Exit 53 for I-64. 06/17/05

I-295 north at I-64 - 2005 I-295 north at I-64 - 2009 I-295 north at I-64 - 2009 I-295 north at I-64 - 2009

South End Interstate 95 ‐ Petersburg, VA

Interstate 295 South at Interstate 95

I-295 south at I-95 - Petersburg, VA

Heading south from U.S. 460, Interstate 295 navigates through a broad S-curve by Hanzik Pond to I-95. 01/04/19

I-295 south at I-95 - Petersburg, VA I-295 south at I-95 - Petersburg, VA I-295 south at I-95 - Petersburg, VA I-295 south at I-95 - Petersburg, VA

Interstate 95 North at Interstate 295

I-95 north at I-295 - Petersburg, VA

The first sign for Interstate 295 north (Exit 46) precedes the modified diamond interchange (Exit 46) with U.S. 301. U.S. 301 shifts to the west side of I-95 leading into Petersburg. 12/21/18

I-95 north at I-295 - Petersburg, VA I-95 north at I-295 - Petersburg, VA I-95 north at I-295 - Petersburg, VA I-95 north at I-295 - Petersburg, VA I-95 north at I-295 - Petersburg, VA I-95 north at I-295 - Petersburg, VA

Interstate 95 South at Interstate 295

I-95 south at I-295 - Petersburg, VA

U.S. 460 separates from I-95 south at a cloverleaf interchange (Exit 48A) 1.75 miles north of I-295. U.S. 460 follows Wagner Road east to SR 106, where it turns south to meet Interstate 295 at Exit 3. 01/01/17

I-95 south at I-295 - Petersburg, VA I-95 south at I-295 - Petersburg, VA I-95 south at I-295 - Petersburg, VA

References

  1. "New I-295 Bridge Opens to Traffic as Work Goes on." Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA), July 19, 1990.
  2. "A $20 Billion Traffic Jam - Virginia's Highway Experts are Looking for a Way Out of Seemingly - Endless Problem." Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA), June 1, 1986.
  3. "Board Awards I-295 Contract." Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA),December 20, 1990.
  4. I-295 Section East of City to Open Today." Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA), October 7, 1988.
  5. "I-295 Section to Hopewell is Opened." Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA),January 21, 1992.
  6. "State Opens Last Portion of I-295." Richmond Times-Dispatch (VA), June 26, 1992.
Updated July 28, 2021