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Caroline County committee reviews STAR study for Ladysmith Road–I‑95 interchange, weighs interim 2033 option
Summary
County transportation staff reviewed the STAR study showing a gridlock-prone no‑build 2055 and three build alternatives (double roundabout, diverging diamond, tight diamond). A 2033 midterm signalized diamond was presented as an adaptable, lower‑cost interim solution; funding and right‑of‑way remain unresolved.
Caroline County transportation staff presented findings from a VDOT‑linked STAR study of the Ladysmith Road (Route 639) and I‑95 interchange, warning that, without changes, the corridor would face gridlock and worsening safety by 2055.
"We received an update from the consultants preparing the STAR study," the presenter said, summarizing slides that mapped six study intersections and described obstructed sight distance, inadequate turn storage and challenging merge movements at ramp terminals. Staff reported that 185 crashes occurred in the study area from 2018–2023 (2020 excluded), including 121 crashes on I‑95 and one fatality in 2021.
The consultants modeled a no‑build 2055 scenario that, staff said, would leave 35–40% of peak‑hour demand unserved and produce failing intersection level of service at ramp terminals, with increased safety risk. A public survey cited by staff found peak‑period travel concentrated in PM hours (reported by 76% of respondents), strong reliance on personal vehicles (about 99% of trips) and calls for multimodal elements such as crosswalks and sidewalks.
Staff walked the committee through three principal build alternatives shown by the consultants: a double roundabout with hybrid ramps and bridge widening; a diverging diamond interchange (DDI) requiring a new bridge and signals; and a tight diamond interchange with signalized ramp terminals and bridge widening. "The operational performance between the TDI and the DDI is comparable," staff said, noting both alternatives reduce expected crashes and improve operations compared with the no‑build case.
Because cost estimates and construction timelines were not yet available, the study also includes a 2033 midterm option that signalizes ramp terminals and reduces lane widths to provide interim relief while remaining adaptable to either a DDI or tight diamond in the future. Staff said the midterm design could be funded earlier and would "provide some relief to traffic in the interim," but cautioned it may begin degrading as traffic grows if long‑term funding and rights‑of‑way are not secured.
Committee members asked consultants to analyze when a midterm fix would fail relative to the 2055 projections and pressed staff on right‑of‑way acquisition needs. Staff said they are talking with a potential property buyer on the south side of Route 639 about reserving right‑of‑way and that developer‑provided right‑of‑way is one common way to reduce project costs.
The committee was told a public meeting on the STAR study is targeted for January; staff asked members to submit questions for the consultants ahead of that hearing. The presentation closed with staff encouraging members and the public to review slide details and raise technical questions that the consultants can address.
