I-95 Travel Time Signs Debut Today

Starting today, electronic signs along I-95 between Fredericksburg and Washington, D.C., will display travel times for the heavily trafficked highway.

The Virginia Department of Transportation has been running a similar program since August on I-66 between the Beltway and Gainesville.

"Using travel data to display accurate travel times allows motorists to consider taking an alternate route before getting mired in traffic or, at the very least, know what to expect,” said Governor McDonnell in a press release. “Whether you are a daily commuter, long distance traveler or trucker, this information is helpful.”

Travel information will be displayed on electronic billboards at seven locations, three for northbound motorists, four for southbound motorists.

Travel times to the beltway for northbound motorists will be posted on the highway near Route 234 in Prince William County, Route 123 in Woodbridge. Another sign at the Fairfax County Parkway will display the travel time to the D.C. border.

Motorists headed south on I-95 will see signs near the Pentagon displaying the travel time to the Capital Beltway. Near the beltway, another sign will display the travel time to Route 123. Near the Fairfax County Parkway, another sign will display the travel time to Route 234. Near Lorton, a final southbound sign will show the travel time to Route 3 near Fredericksburg.

The travel time information will be posted every weekday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. On the weekends, it will be displayed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Travel times are determined using real time traffic data gathered from Inrix. The signs will be updated every five minutes.