The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has announced a revised start date for its pavement project on Route 208 (Courthouse Road) in Spotsylvania County. The work will now begin on Monday, September 8, instead of the previously scheduled date of Tuesday, September 2.
Construction crews will commence operations near Lawyers Road and move west toward the east end of the Route 208 bridge over Lake Anna. According to VDOT, “Each week, Route 208 will be reduced to a single lane from 7 a.m. on Mondays and will reopen around 5 p.m. on Fridays. The project is expected to be complete by November 2025, weather permitting.”
VDOT explained that closing a lane helps prevent drivers from encountering uneven surfaces and a significant drop in pavement height during construction. Flaggers will manage traffic at each end of the work zone while a pilot truck leads vehicles through alternating directions. “Each day, the length of the lane closure will be extended to cover the section to be reconstructed that day,” VDOT stated.
On Fridays, crews are scheduled to pave the closed travel lane before reopening it for weekend traffic.
The project involves full-depth reclamation along a 3.7-mile stretch of Route 208. This process includes removing approximately four inches of asphalt and stabilizing the pavement down to about twelve inches deep, which incorporates both existing pavement and road base material. A fog seal—a thin layer of diluted asphalt covered with aggregate—will protect this surface before multiple layers of new asphalt are applied as final pavement.
“This project will fully reconstruct 3.7 miles of road and apply multiple layers of asphalt across both travel lanes and shoulders. This project will strengthen the road to extend its life span and improve its ability to carry heavy vehicle traffic,” VDOT said.
Message boards alerting motorists about upcoming work will be placed along Route 208 ahead of construction activities.
Allan Myers is serving as contractor for this $3.1 million effort, which is estimated to last about two months once underway.
According to recent data from VDOT’s most recent traffic count in 2023, Courthouse Road accommodates an average daily volume of approximately 8,500 vehicles between Lawyers Road and the Louisa County-Spotsylvania County line.
Travelers can stay informed about ongoing lane closures by visiting 511Virginia, downloading the free mobile app, or calling 511 within Virginia for updates.
