Crews are expected to begin widening Interstate 95 to four lanes in both directions from the Prince William County-Fairfax County border toward the Beltway by mid-March, Virginia Department of Transportation officials said Thursday.

The $123 million project, pitched to speed 250,000 vehicles through Fairfax County each day, should be complete in September 2011, the agency said.

Although the Springfield Interchange project completed last summer has lessened the daily traffic congestion at the Beltway, afternoon traffic now backs up where the lanes shrink from four to three.

“Interchange people move through Springfield so quickly, now the backup is at exit 166,” Fairfax County Parkway, Virginia project communications director Steve Titunik said.

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The construction will add a lane for five miles northbound and six miles southbound, at a cost of about $11.2 million per mile. Ten bridges, including those passing over the Occoquan River, must be renovated to handle the extra lane.

Although drivers should expect shoulder closures as part of the overhaul, Titunik said construction-related delays should be limited.

“We shouldn’t expect too much impact on motorists because we’re working on the outside,” Titunik said, calling the project a great thing for drivers.

dgenz@dcexaminer.com