GEORGE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY WIDENING PROJECT

When a nearly three-year highway improvement project was finished, local residents were so excited they actually threw a party.

A 2.8-mile section of Route 17 in York County, VA, also known as the George Washington Memorial Highway, was widened from four lanes to six lanes through a very busy commercial and retail district. Branch Civil served as the General Contractor for the project, which also involved the construction of a six-lane bridge over the Poquoson River, replacing two existing bridges.

Access to the numerous businesses along the stretch of highway remained open during the entire project, as construction on the new entrances was completed one-half at a time. Special temporary signage was also erected to better guide travelers into the many shopping complexes that line the road.

The $25.2M widening project added a shared-use path for pedestrians and bicyclists and improved drainage with the installation of storm drain pipes and gutters.

Originally slated to be complete by New Year’s Eve 2016, Branch Civil was able to wrap up work 8 days ahead of schedule, inspiring the county’s economic development leaders to hold a celebratory family event, complete with raffles, games, and inflatables.