Dates	Number of Participants (unique individuals)
May 7-21, 2025	417

 

The following needs have been identified for this study. Do you agree with these needs?
Capacity preservation (keep traffic flowing smoothly)	86%
Congestion mitigation	85%
Safety improvement	72%
Bicycle access	35%
Transportation demand management (TDM)	35%
Transit access	32%
Pedestrian access	31%

 

Rank the following needs in order of importance to you along the study area.
Reducing traffic congestion	95%
Corridor safety / intersection safety	81%
Speeding / aggressive driving	79%
Proper pavement marking and signage	77%
Public transit access and service	68%
Pedestrian safety and accessibility	67%
Bicycle safety and accessibility	66%

 

Which of the following safety issues concern you?
Sudden stopping / rear-end crashes	64%
Speeding / aggressive driving	57%
Running red lights	50%
Inadequate lighting	37%
Inadequate pavement marking and signage	32%
Lack of sidewalks / missing sidewalks	32%
Difficulty weaving / merging	27%
Side-impact crashes	25%
Insufficient / missing crosswalks and pedestrian signal timing	25%
Inadequate bicycle facilities	19%
Inadequate transit / bus stops	12%
Lack of ADA ramps and accessibility	9%
Closely spaced driveways	9%
Other	7%

 

What mobility issues do you typically experience when using the study area?
Poor signal coordination	53%
Difficulty making left turns	46%
Lack of turn lanes	40%
Vehicles blocking entrances	17%
Difficulty when walking	16%
Difficulty when riding a bicycle	15%
Other	10%
Difficulty accessing businesses	6%

 

What mode(s) of travel do you use when traveling along the study area?
Personal vehicle	98%
Truck or commercial vehicle	5%
Cycling	5%
Taxi / Uber / Lyft	4%
Walking	3%
Other	3%
Carpool / Vanpool	1%
Metro bus, local bus, or commuter bus	1%

 

Phase 1 FR-25-06 Executive Summary - PDF, 800KB

The Phase 2 survey regarding proposed alternatives for Route 17 (Mills Drive) between Massaponax Church Road and the Caroline County line in Spotsylvania County was completed in November 2025.

Dates	Number of Participants (unique individuals)
November 10-24, 2025	166

Route 17 and Tidewater Trail Alternatives

Three potential design concepts have been developed to address the needs at the intersection of Route 17 and Tidewater Trail/Sandy Lane Drive. The intersection has recurring congestion in the AM and PM peak periods, especially in the northbound and southbound directions. Twelve crashes occurred here between 2020 and 2024, including three that involved vehicles running red lights. 

1. Route 17 and Tidewater Trail/Sandy Lane Drive: Conventional Improvements

The proposed alternative will reconfigure the northbound and southbound lanes to have an exclusive left-turn lane and a shared through/right-turn lane. These improvements will allow the traffic signal to operate more efficiently and are projected to improve operations and safety. Additionally, a sidewalk, crosswalk, and channelized median will be constructed along Tidewater Trail at New Post Boulevard to provide clarity to drivers and provide refuge for pedestrians crossing Tidewater Trail.  

Please rate the proposed alternative to reconfigure the Route 17 and Tidewater Trail/Sandy Lane Drive intersection. (154 responses) 

	1. Strongly oppose	2. Somewhat oppose	3. Neutral	4. Somewhat support	5. Strongly support
Rate the concept on a scale of 1 to 5.	9%	8%	18%	34%	31%

 

2. Route 17 and Tidewater Trail/Sandy Lane Drive: Quadrant Roadway

The proposed alternative will reroute left-turn movements from the main intersection to secondary intersections linked by a connector roadway. The secondary intersections will be signalized and timed to operate with the main intersection. These improvements will allow the traffic signal to operate more efficiently and are projected to improve operations and safety. Additionally, a sidewalk, crosswalk, and channelized median will be constructed along Tidewater Trail at New Post Boulevard to provide clarity to drivers and provide refuge for pedestrians crossing Tidewater Trail. 

Visit VDOT’s innovative intersection webpage to learn more about quadrant roadways. 

Please rate the proposed alternative to reconfigure the Route 17 and Tidewater Trail/Sandy Lane Drive intersection to a Quadrant Roadway. (148 responses) 

	1. Strongly oppose	2. Somewhat oppose	3. Neutral	4. Somewhat support	5. Strongly support
Rate the concept on a scale of 1 to 5.	39%	16%	9%	17%	20%

 

3. Route 17 and Tidewater Trail/Sandy Lane Drive: Localized Widening

The proposed alternative will widen Route 17 at the intersection of Tidewater Trail/Sandy Lane Drive from two to four lanes and reconfigure the northbound and southbound lanes to have an exclusive left-turn lane and a shared through/right-turn lane. This will allow for additional capacity on Route 17 and allow the traffic signal to operate more efficiently and is projected to improve operations and safety. Additionally, a sidewalk, crosswalk, and channelized median will be constructed along Tidewater Trail at New Post Boulevard to provide clarity to drivers and provide refuge for pedestrians crossing Tidewater Trail. 

Please rate the proposed alternative to widen Route 17 near its intersection with Tidewater Trail/Sandy Lane Drive. (143 responses)

	1. Strongly oppose	2. Somewhat oppose	3. Neutral	4. Somewhat support	5. Strongly support
Rate the concept on a scale of 1 to 5.	14%	7%	19%	22%	38%

 

4. Do Nothing at the Intersection of Route 17 and Tidewater Trail/Sandy Lane Drive

The do-nothing alternative assumes no new improvements would take place and the existing infrastructure would remain in its current condition. 

Please rate the do-nothing alternative, which would retain existing conditions at Route 17 and Tidewater Trail/Sandy Lane Drive. (143 responses) 

	1. Strongly oppose	2. Somewhat oppose	3. Neutral	4. Somewhat support	5. Strongly support
Rate the concept on a scale of 1 to 5.	50%	20%	15%	3%	12%

 

Route 17 Corridor Alternatives

This section of the survey identifies potential design concepts to address the needs of the Route 17 corridor between Massaponax Church Road and the Caroline County line. Route 17 has recurring congestion in the AM and PM peak periods, the presence of large trucks creates slow-moving traffic in the AM peak period, and lacks pedestrian and bicycle facilities. 

1. Route 17 Widening from Massaponax Church Road to Benchmark Road/Crossroads Parkway

The proposed alternative will widen Route 17 from two to four lanes between Massaponax Church Road and Benchmark Road/Crossroads Parkway. A 10-foot-wide shared-use path will be constructed on the north side of the roadway. The widening and shared-use path will connect to improvements built by others on both ends of the roadway segment. A new bridge will be constructed over the railroad tracks. These improvements will increase the capacity of Route 17 and improve bicycle and pedestrian safety and accessibility. 

Please rate the proposed alternative to widen Route 17 between Massaponax Church Road and Benchmark Road/Crossroads Parkway. (123 responses) 

	1. Strongly oppose	2. Somewhat oppose	3. Neutral	4. Somewhat support	5. Strongly support
Rate the concept on a scale of 1 to 5.	8%	5%	10%	25%	52%

 

2. Do Nothing on Route 17 from Massaponax Church Road to Benchmark Road/Crossroads Parkway

The do-nothing alternative assumes no new improvements would take place and the existing infrastructure would remain in its current condition.  

Please rate the do-nothing alternative, which would retain existing conditions on Route 17 from Massaponax Church Road to Benchmark Road/Crossroads Parkway. (125 responses) 

	1. Strongly oppose	2. Somewhat oppose	3. Neutral	4. Somewhat support	5. Strongly support
Rate the concept on a scale of 1 to 5.	54%	10%	18%	7%	11%

 

3. Route 17 Widening from Jim Morris Road/Thornton Rolling Road through Tidewater Trail/Sandy Lane Drive

The proposed alternative will widen Route 17 from two to four lanes from east of Thornton Rolling Road/Jim Morris Road through Tidewater Trail/Sandy Lane Drive. A 10-foot-wide shared-use path will be constructed on the north side of the roadway. Crosswalks will be included on the east and south legs of Jim Morris Road/Thornton Rolling Road to connect to a shared-use path built by others. The northbound and southbound lanes at Tidewater Trail/Sandy Lane Drive will be reconfigured to have an exclusive left-turn lane and a shared through/right-turn lane. These improvements will increase the capacity on Route 17, improve bicycle and pedestrian safety and accessibility, and improve operations and safety at the intersection of Tidewater Trail/Sandy Lane Drive.  

Please rate the proposed alternative to widen Route 17 from Thornton Rolling Road/Jim Morris Road through Tidewater Trail/Sandy Lane Drive. (124 responses)

	1. Strongly oppose	2. Somewhat oppose	3. Neutral	4. Somewhat support	5. Strongly support
Rate the concept on a scale of 1 to 5.	9%	4%	15%	26%	47%

 

4. Do Nothing on Route 17 from Jim Morris Road/Thronton Rolling Road through Tidewater Trail/Sandy Lane Drive

The do-nothing alternative assumes no new improvements would take place and the existing infrastructure would remain in its current condition. 

Please rate the do-nothing alternative, which would retain existing conditions on Route 17 from Jim Morris Road/Thronton Rolling Road through Tidewater Trail/Sandy Lane Drive. (123 responses)

	1. Strongly oppose	2. Somewhat oppose	3. Neutral	4. Somewhat support	5. Strongly support
Rate the concept on a scale of 1 to 5.	50%	11%	24%	4%	11%

 

5. Shared-Use Path from Massaponax Church Road to Benchmark Road/Crossroads Parkway

The proposed alternative will construct a 10-foot-wide shared-used path on Eagle Drive, Benchmark Road, and Crossroads Parkway. Crosswalks will be included on the west leg of Benchmark Road/Crossroads Parkway and connect to improvements built by others on both ends. The shared-use path would pass underneath the railroads tracks. These improvements will increase bicycle and pedestrian safety and accessibility. 

Please rate the proposed alternative to construct a shared-use path on Eagle Drive, Benchmark Road, and Crossroads Parkway. (123 responses) 

	1. Strongly oppose	2. Somewhat oppose	3. Neutral	4. Somewhat support	5. Strongly support
Rate the concept on a scale of 1 to 5.	12%	6%	22%	21%	39%

 

6. Do Nothing on Eagle Drive, Benchmark Road, and Crossroads Parkway

The do-nothing alternative assumes no new improvements would take place and the existing infrastructure would remain in its current condition. 

Please rate the do-nothing alternative, which would retain existing conditions on Eagle Drive, Benchmark Road, and Crossroads Parkway. (123 responses) 

	1. Strongly oppose	2. Somewhat oppose	3. Neutral	4. Somewhat support	5. Strongly support
Rate the concept on a scale of 1 to 5.	40%	11%	34%	5%	11%