The Virginia Department of Transportation will announce next week the results of a recently completed safety assessment of Route 3.
In a news release Tuesday, VDOT said it will present recommendations to improve safety on the highway east of Stevensburg. The public meeting is set for May 19 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at VDOT’s Culpeper District Headquarters, 1601 Orange Road.
In March, four people died on Route 3 when their sedan was struck head-on by an SUV traveling in the wrong lane. Police say alcohol was a factor and that the investigation into that accident is ongoing.
Two other crashes in the last two years have killed two others on that stretch of highway.
Following the March accident, Stevensburg-area residents organized meetings to call on legislators, transportation officials and VDOT to address their concerns about the road’s safety.
At a meeting last month, VDOT officials identified some of the measures that may be implemented; they include enhanced warning signage, flashing lights and a center-line rumble strip.
Route 3 is the main highway linking Culpeper and Fredericksburg. It’s a four-lane road except for two sections — the one near Stevensburg and a short section near Culpeper town limits.
While road improvements would enhance safety, VDOT and law enforcement officials also say that unsafe or inattentive driver behavior is a contributing factor. A VDOT official last month said preliminary study data showed that 85 percent of drivers were exceeding the posted 55-mph speed limit.
The auditorium at VDOT’s Culpeper District headquarters is located in the back of the main building. For directions or more information, call 829-7500.
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